Catholic influencer and comedian Paul Kim announced on New Year’s Day that his 5-year-old son, Micah, had died from severe flu, drawing an emotional response from his hundreds of thousands of followers who had tracked the child’s hospitalization.
Kim, who has more than 350,000 followers on Instagram, shared the news in a tearful video posted Jan. 1, the day after Micah’s passing. He said Micah died on Dec. 31, 2025, after nearly two weeks in critical condition.
“Yesterday, on December 31, 2025, after fighting 11 long, hard days, Micah went home to the house of our Father,” Kim said, his voice breaking. “We’re so proud of him,” he added, thanking supporters for the prayers and encouragement his family received.
Kim and his wife, Maggie, began documenting Micah’s medical crisis publicly on Dec. 21, when Kim posted that his son suffered a sudden “medical emergency” and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. In the days following this initial post, Kim shared frequent updates as Micah’s condition worsened, consistently asking for prayers.
According to information shared on a GoFundMe page titled “Miracle for Micah,” the child was placed on life support as doctors worked to stabilize him. Kim later explained that Micah had contracted an unusually severe case of influenza that led to life-threatening complications.
In one update, Kim described what doctors told him about his son’s illness. “He had an insane case of the flu, and it caused him to go septic,” Kim said. “He went into seizures, and the doctors are saying it’s one of the most horrific cases of this virus they’ve ever seen in their lives,” Kim said. Micah’s organs began shutting down despite extensive medical intervention. “It’s very rare what happened to my son,” he said. “So, rest assured, he needs a miracle. There’s no doubt about it.”
Throughout the hospitalization, Kim framed his son’s fight through the lens of his Catholic faith, a theme that continued after Micah’s death. In the caption accompanying his New Year’s Day announcement, Kim wrote that his son was beginning the year “basking in the never-ending glory, love, and peace of God.”
“Micah Joseph is beginning the new year basking in the never-ending glory, love, and peace of God,” Kim wrote. “Micah has been very busy already, as I see the Lord using him and sending him on missions to bring millions of people closer to God.”
In the same message, Kim acknowledged the depth of his family’s grief while emphasizing his reliance on faith. “Our hearts are broken, but we trust in the Lord,” he wrote. “Please pray for my family and me as we learn how to live by faith and not by sight.” Kim and his wife have six children.
Later on New Year’s Day, following his earlier announcement, Kim shared a second video update to address concerns that the tragedy might shake his beliefs. He explained that, despite the pain, his faith remains intact.
“I have not lost my faith,” Kim said. “Micah is where we want to be — in eternal life.” He went on to tell supporters that he intends to continue praying for those who prayed for his family. “I will pray for you and your intentions for the rest of my life. We will, and Micah will,” he said.
In remarks that reflected Catholic traditions surrounding sainthood and intercessory prayer, Kim encouraged followers to remember his son spiritually. “You can turn to my saint, little Micah Joseph Kim, and ask for his prayers,” he said. “His prayers are powerful.”
Micah’s death comes as influenza activity increases across the United States, with health officials warning that severe complications, while uncommon, can be especially dangerous for young children. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that thousands of people die from flu-related causes each season, and pediatric cases can escalate quickly when infections lead to sepsis or neurological complications.
Public health experts continue to stress the importance of flu vaccination, early medical treatment, and close monitoring of symptoms in children, particularly during periods of high transmission.
For Kim, the tragedy has transformed a deeply personal loss into a public moment of mourning shared with a vast online community. As his family begins the new year without Micah, Kim’s messages have shifted from urgent pleas for prayer to reflections on grief, faith, and remembrance — closing a chapter that touched millions who followed his son’s fight for life.
