Member Bios

Lori Buher

Mount Vernon, Washington

Lori Buher’s son, Carl, was a 14-year-old freshman in high school when he was diagnosed with meningococcal disease, a very serious but vaccine-preventable bacterial infection. In 2003, Carl came home from a football game complaining that he didn’t feel well. Many of Carl’s teammates had been sick with the flu, so Carl assumed he had just caught the bug. The next day, Carl became disoriented and developed purple splotches all over his face and arms. He was rushed to the doctor, where he was diagnosed with meningococcal disease. As a result of the infection, Carl had to undergo amputation of both of his feet and three of his fingers. Until Carl got sick, Lori was not aware that adolescents are at increased risk for meningococcal disease or that there is a vaccine available that could have protected her son.

Download full biography (PDF) and her PSA (mp3).

Evelyn Brooks

Roanoke, Virginia

Evelyn Brooks had studied meningococcal disease in nursing school, but never suspected such a rare, yet potentially fatal, disease could strike her 21-year-old daughter, Paula, a senior at the University of Missouri. Evelyn was not aware the disease had increased so much on college campuses and that Paula could have been immunized prior to entering college.

Download full biography (PDF) and her PSA (mp3).

Ginny Marso

St. Cloud, Minnesota

Ginny Marso was not alarmed when her son Andy, a senior at the University of Kansas (KU) in Lawrence, called to say he wasn’t feeling well. She assumed he was run down and had the flu. However, the next morning, Andy’s friend went to check on him and found that Andy’s legs and arms were covered with purple blotches. Andy was taken to the local hospital where a spinal tap confirmed meningococcal disease. Andy survived the disease, but only after spending a total of five months in the hospital and undergoing surgery to amputate all of his fingers except his right thumb and about one third of each foot. Ginny joined the National Meningitis Association’s “Moms on Meningitis” program to help educate other families in Minnesota about the dangers of meningococcal disease and prevention methods, including immunization.

Download full biography (PDF) and her PSA (mp3).

Sue Burd

Marlton, New Jersey

Sue Burd’s son, Jeff, was a motivated high school student and avid hockey player when his life was suddenly cut short due to meningococcal disease, a serious bacterial infection that is potentially vaccine-preventable. Jeff was feeling a little run down but thought he just had the same cold many of his family members were experiencing. However, three days later, Jeff’s temperature skyrocketed to 104 degrees and he complained of feeling weak and uncomfortable. Later that afternoon, Jeff suffered a seizure. Sue called 911 and within five minutes of arriving at the hospital, doctors confirmed he had meningitis. Despite the rapid diagnosis, Jeff lost his battle with meningococcal disease.

Download full biography (PDF)