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St. Louis Park Students Mourn Freshman's Death

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (AP) -- A St. Louis Park Senior High School student who died of flu complications is described as "a friend to all."

The school's director of students, Kari Schwietering says friends of 14-year-old Carly Christenson are having a hard time dealing with her death, but they're trying to rally around each other and offer support.

The school held a large counseling session in the gym Wednesday, which some parents also attended. Christenson is the fifth person in Minnesota to die of flu complications this flu season.

The family's church, Westwood Lutheran, posted a message on its Facebook site which said Carly passed away Tuesday surrounded by her parents, brother, grandparents and a few close friends. The teen was admitted to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis on Christmas Eve.

Christenson is the second such death involving an otherwise healthy teen in the last 10 days in Minnesota. On Dec. 30, 17-year-old Max Schwolert died of flu complications at a St. Paul hospital.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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