HONOLULU -- A Kaimuki mother and father spoke on Wednesday urged the public to get vaccinated for the H1N1 flu after their son died from complications of the swine flu.

Clutching their surviving child, 18-month-old Makayla, Erica and Max Neves spoke about the death of their son, Joshua, 3.

Joshua Nevis fell ill in June with a fever. His mother said it came on suddenly.

"And I noticed that he looked pale. So, I went to check on him and he was unresponsive. I called 911. I did CPR while I waited for the paramedics to arrive and I couldn't tell if there was a pulse," Erica Neves said.

Paramedics treated Joshua Neves and took him to Kapiolani Medical Center. He died in the ICU from acute respiratory distress and pneumonia brought on by H1N1, his parents said.

"Our son was healthy. He was a strong healthy boy. For something like this to have devastated his body; it's very hard to comprehend," Erica Neves said.

"I go from playing with him on a Wednesday to opening up the obituary and seeing my son's face, and seeing a person who passed away at 75, a person who passed away at 101, a person who passed away at 85, and then a No. 3 next to my son's name. That's beyond comprehension," Max Neves said.

Max and Erica Neves urged people to cover their coughs, stay in when sick and to vaccinate their children.

"If no more families have to worry about their kids ending up in the hospital or ending up in intensive care, it would be worth it to share our story," Erica Neves said.