An influencer’s five-year-old son has died just days after contracting a severe case of the flu. Catholic influencer, Paul Kim, announced his son Micah had died on New Year’s Eve (December 31) in a heartbreaking video online. Taking to Instagram, the social media star admitted it “continues to be” the hardest thing he has ever been through as the family battles their grief.

He told his followers that his son had been “fighting” for “11 long, hard days” before he tragically lost his life. Paul tearfully said: “We are so proud of him. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart as his dad, on behalf of my family, for all the ways you guys prayed and lifted us up during this time.”

He added: “This is an incredibly difficult, impossible time for our family. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever been through in my life and it continues to be.” Despite asking for privacy, the grieving dad admitted that he felt obligated to shared the tragic news with his supportive network online.

Paul explained: “As much as at this time I just want to have privacy and have time to mourn with my family, I felt like I owed all of you an update, just out of gratitude. Micah is already in Heaven at work, seriously, so many testimonies, so many ways in which God is using the light in my five-year-old to truly save souls and change the world.”

He added that he couldn’t be a prouder father, but that “our hearts are broken.” He went on: “But we trust in the Lord. Please pray for my family and me as we learn how to live by faith and not by sight.”

It didn’t take long before followers flocked to the comments section to pass on their sympathies to the grieving family online. One user penned: “There are no words. I am so sorry. Your faith during this most unbearable of trials has been an inspiration to even more people than you know.”

Influencer Paul shared a heartbreaking tribute online (Image: Instagram)

Another added: “Our hearts are with you. We are so deeply sorry for your loss and are lifting you and your family up in prayer. Your faith has been such an inspiration, and we trust that the Lord is holding Micah close in His loving mercy.”

a third echoed: “Paul and Maggie, our hearts are broken for you guys. Praying for you and your family. Little Michah, pray for us all to run the race well.”