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State M.O.M.s
Terri Martin
Sebastion, Florida
Mother of Alan Martin, Who Died of Meningococcal Disease
Alan Martin
Terri Martin never suspected such a rare, yet potentially fatal, infection could strike her 21-year-old son Alan, an identical twin and talented musician. After being on the road for five weeks with his band, Alan went to the emergency room in Tallahassee with a fever, headache and chills. Alan was examined by a nurse and sent home with a suspected case of bronchitis.
Later that evening, Alan returned to the E.R. with intense pain and a purple rash that was spreading quickly across his torso. Sadly, Alan died of meningococcal disease only hours after Terri arrived at the hospital. Although she had heard of the infection, Terri was not aware that it could have been potentially prevented through vaccination.
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Joan Sawyer
Jacksonville, Florida
Mother of Kelli, Who Survived Meningococcal Disease
Kelli Sawyer
Joan Sawyer had read about meningococcal disease when her daughter, Kelli, was preparing for college, but the vaccine was not a school requirement at the time and Kelli was not immunized. Years later in 2005, Kelli, a successful 34-year-old mortgage broker, had purchased her first home when she contracted the deadly bacterial infection.
> Full Bio (PDF) |
Susan Davis
Jupiter, Florida
Mother of Rhett, Who Died of Meningococcal Disease
Rhett Davis
Susan's son, Rhett was a witty, fun-loving and intelligent college student who tragically lost his life in November 2006 to meningococcal disease, a serious, yet vaccine-preventable bacterial infection. Rhett had come home for Thanksgiving break to spend time with his family. Rhett returned to school on Monday to take his finals and to go on a scheduled snowboarding trip with friends before Christmas. However, after returning to school Rhett became ill with flu-like symptoms. Three days later, on a Thursday, Rhett passed away alone in his college apartment. The autopsy revealed Rhett had died from acute bacterial meningitis.
"This is a tragedy that could have been prevented. A mother can't protect her child from everything but you can prevent against bacterial meningitis. It is important to be educated about the symptoms of meningococcal disease and have your children vaccinated." - Susan Davis
> Full Bio (PDF)
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