INDIANAPOLIS -- A Kansas teenager in Indianapolis for the FFA national convention died from complications related to the H1N1 flu, school officials said.

Lauren Merklein, 14, from the small town of Kiowa, Kan., about two hours southwest of Wichita, died Sunday at Riley Hospital for Children, where she was diagnosed with the H1N1 flu, said Brad Morris, the superintendent of South Barber school district, where Merklein was a high school freshman.

Special Section: H1N1 Flu

Merklein had a pre-existing heart condition, but showed no symptoms of the flu before arriving in Indianapolis for the conference on Tuesday, Morris said.

"She had felt just a little bit achy," said Shelly Merklein, Lauren's mother. "But she had no cough."

The teen collapsed in her hotel room Friday night and remained in critical condition for the rest of the weekend before her death.

The girl's mother said doctors determined that H1N1 may have contributed to he girl's death after she went into cardiac arrest.

"They really weren't suspecting it a whole lot … but then she spiked a really high fever," Merklein said. "That's when they ran the test for H1N1, and it came back positive."

Merklein was a cheerleader, an honor roll student and was involved in band and choir.

"She loved life. She had a very, very faith, an active faith," said South Barber Schools Superintendent Brad Morris. "She was just the leader, and … people just loved her, loved to be around her because she made you feel wonderful every time you're around her."

Shelly Merklein, told 6News' Julie Pursley Thursday that she had tried to get her daughter and her siblings vaccinated, but the children couldn't get Flumist because they have heart conditions, and the shot wasn't yet available.

"It makes me angry at whoever is responsible for producing that," Merklein said. "Why did they spend so much time talking about it and not spend more time trying to produce it?"

Merklein said that she hopes her daughter's death will urge people to get vaccinated.

"Call the doctor, and if they're not able to get it … I don't know who you would call in government," she said.

The FFA, which held its national convention in Indianapolis last week, said it has not confirmed that Merklein died from complications related to the H1N1 flu, but said it has let a letter to advisers of students who attended the convention.

"FFA today distributed a message to every adviser who attended the convention informing them that we experienced a handful of cases of flu-like symptoms, and have been informed of at least one suspected case of H1N1," a statement read. "We asked our advisers to ensure that their students and their families closely monitor their health and seek medical treatment if flu symptoms develop."

The Indiana State Department of Health said it won't comment on individual cases and that it only tracks cases involving Indiana residents.