Since adolescents ages 16-21 have the highest rates of meningococcal meningitis, it is important that young people receive the meningococcal meningitis vaccines before going to college.
The video below tells the story of two college students: Jamie Schanbaum, a University of Texas at Austin student who had both of her legs amputated because of meningitis in 2008, and Nicolis Williams, a Texas A&M University student who died in early 2011 from the disease.
This video includes content some may consider unsettling. Discretion advised.
We are grateful for the courage of these families in sharing their personal stories so that we might prevent other families from experiencing the devastating effects of this disease.
To learn more about the meningitis vaccine and these families, consider reading Vaccine-Preventable Disease: The Forgotten Story, co-written by Texas Children’s own Dr. Carol Baker and Dr. Julie Boom.
As a parent who lost her 20 year old son to bacterial meningitis, I applaud Jamie Schanbaum and the family of Nicolis Williams to make sure that this doesn’t happen to others. Jamie works with the National Meningitis Association, an organization I helped found after the death of my son. My son fought for 26 days, had both arms and legs amputated, but it wasn’t enough to save his life. After my son died, I found out that vaccines were available that could have saved his life. Needless to say, I live with this grief on a daily basis, but if I can prevent one family from not suffering, then I am honoring my son’s memory. Please be aware of the CDC recommendations for meningitis vaccination starting at age 11, and visit the National Meningitis Association for more information.
Lynn, thank you so much for your response. I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you for honoring your son’s life by helping to save the lives of others. You and other parents and families like you inspire me to do this work. Thank you again for all that you do for children and adolescents.