East Northport Dad Spent 116 Days In Hospital After Contracting Flu

EAST NORTHPORT, NY — An East Northport father of three who had never spent a night in a hospital nearly lost his life after contracting the flu earlier this year, enduring a 116-day hospitalization that included a medically induced coma, kidney failure and placement on a lung transplant waiting list.

Now, Frank Bosco, 63, is sharing his experience and urging others to get vaccinated as health officials warn that flu season is beginning earlier than usual across New York.

"I was never sick before. I had never even been in the hospital," Bosco said in a Northwell Health news release. "It started with a cold. Then it got worse."

Bosco, who co-owns Bosco & Sons Associates Mason Contracting, first sought treatment at an urgent care facility on Jan. 16, according to information provided by Northwell Health. Five days later, he arrived at Huntington Hospital's emergency department with low oxygen levels.

His condition continued to deteriorate.

Bosco was transferred to Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park on Jan. 29, where he was treated for pneumonia and placed on a ventilator and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a form of life support that helps oxygenate the blood when the lungs cannot function adequately.

He also developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition that severely impairs breathing. By Valentine's Day, his wife of 36 years, Theresa, feared she might lose him.

According to Northwell, Feb. 14 marked Bosco's worst day of vital signs in the medical intensive care unit. His family went to church as doctors continued fighting to save his life.

His kidneys had also failed, requiring dialysis.

"He thought he was iron man and didn't get the vaccine," said Dr. Ernest Vomero, a pulmonologist at Huntington Hospital who helped treat Bosco. "It's a miracle that he's alive."

Bosco had not received a flu shot during the 2025-26 season, a decision he now acknowledges was a mistake.

His medical journey continued on April 13, when he was transferred to North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset. Still requiring dialysis and struggling with severe lung complications, he was placed on the lung transplant waiting list.

But Bosco eventually began recovering.

After spending nearly four months across three Northwell hospitals, he was discharged home in May, able to walk on his own.

His recovery has continued through physical and occupational therapy, although he has not yet been medically cleared to return to work.

One of his biggest motivations throughout the ordeal was a promise to his future daughter-in-law.

While Bosco was hospitalized, Victoria, who was preparing to marry his youngest son, Chris, encouraged him to recover in time for their wedding.

"You have to get better so you can dance with me," Bosco recalled her telling him at his bedside.

On Oct. 17, that promise became a reality.

Bosco attended his son's wedding at The Fox Hollow in Woodbury, where he shared a dance with Victoria, marking a major milestone in his recovery.

The experience also changed his perspective on influenza vaccination. Bosco received his flu shot earlier this month.

His story comes as the New York State Department of Health declared influenza prevalent statewide on Monday, Oct. 26, citing an earlier-than-usual start to the flu season.

According to figures cited by Northwell, confirmed flu cases increased 19 percent to 3,526 statewide in the latest reporting period, with 233 hospitalizations.

Dr. Mangala Narasimhan, Northwell Health's senior vice president of critical care services, warned that influenza can cause severe complications even among otherwise healthy individuals.

"Every year we see several patients who are young, healthy, have no co-morbidities and die of flu," Narasimhan said. "Their families are shocked. They didn't think the flu could do this. Everyone should get the flu shot."

Northwell officials said their laboratories are seeing an approximately 5 percent flu positivity rate, compared with 1 percent or less during the same period in the previous two years.

Dr. Dwayne Breining, Northwell's senior vice president of laboratory services, said the health system processes approximately 5,000 tests weekly and expects influenza activity to peak earlier than usual.

"Generally, when you get up to 5 percent, that means we will peak about a month early," Breining said. "Flu will be at its peak for the holidays this year. Flu is on its way."

Dr. Bruce Farber, Northwell's chief public health and epidemiology officer, encouraged New Yorkers to get vaccinated before holiday gatherings and travel increase exposure risks.

"The virus changes each year and long-lasting immunity is not possible," Farber said. "Despite the misinformation that is circulating about the vaccine, everyone over the age of 6 months should get a flu shot each year."

The state Health Department has also launched a new respiratory virus dashboard tracking influenza, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases and hospitalizations throughout New York.

For Bosco, who survived months of intensive medical treatment and made it home in time for his family's celebration, the message is: don't underestimate the flu.