Parents of children killed by influenza B find solace in faith communities

"I'm very sad, I'm trying to be strong and be okay, but at night, I still get very sad," said Le Hong Pollard as she spoke to CBC K-W in her mother tongue of Vietnamese. 

Le Hong said she and her husband, Stan Pollard, have been attending the Vien-Quang buddhist temple in Ariss, Ont., for comfort and support. 

With the Lunar New Year coming up, they both have been volunteering at the temple frequently to "clear their minds," she said. 

"I go to the temple and listen to prayers so I can be okay because every time we go home, we're reminded of her and what happened," said Le Hong. 

Her husband Stan said he's been volunteering there for many years, back when the association was still located in Kitchener, and said he's glad the temple is located much closer to his family now. 

"They're trying to keep me busy from thinking about my daughter," he said. "We just put her ashes to rest there on Friday. I was thinking about who is going to put our ashes in there... she's suppose to continue our legacy." 

A community's response 

Vu-Pollard is the first of two students at Westminster Woods Public School to have died of the flu in less than two weeks.  

Seven-year-old Boyqara Dahi, also died from the influenza B virus. He was known to have cerebral palsy. 

The Islamic Society of Guelph held a funeral for him and his family on Saturday.

'I wish there was a warning' 

Pollard said his daughter fought the flu many times before, and every time, she would return back to school within two days. 

But this time, it was different. 

"We found her in the bathroom, leaning against the bathroom door Wednesday morning," he told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo. 

Pollard said he phoned 911 and tried to do CPR immediately. 

"The vision of her staring at you when you're trying to rescue your daughter's life is buried in your memory for the rest of your life." 

Pollard said he regrets not having a better knowledge of the warning signs of a fatal flu infection.   

"I would rush her right to the hospital but... it didn't matter because it was in her blood stream. There's no way of stopping it. It's basically a silent killer... like 24-hours and you're gone," said Pollard. 

'Not going to bring my daughter back' 

Pollard said he has grateful for all the community support and response so far, but he's still saddened by the loss. 

"I really appreciate it, but it's not going to bring my daughter back," he said in tears. "She was so dear to me. She was more than my best friend. She was very close to me, everywhere I went she was with me." 

His wife, Le Hong, said Layna was very "kind and loving." 

"I understand...maybe she's at a better place now, but I just miss her," she said. "We love her and have cared for her up till that point. She left us too young."