I studied the ceiling tiles from my hospital bed as I was forced to lay flat for yet another day as I recovered from complications of bacterial meningitis. It had been weeks of torture and I couldn’t fully comprehend what I was going through. I did know in that moment that one day, once I recovered, I was going to do everything I could to help others avoid the same hell that is bacterial meningitis.
Since then I’ve been an advocate seeking to help build connection and community with others. I began my career as a non-profit arts professional, and then later healthcare. I worked with other patients to help them share their experiences, and found the courage I needed to start sharing my story too.
I finally began my own journey as a meningitis patient advocate in 2019. Since then I take any opportunity I have to write, speak, and share my story in order to help others protect themselves and their love ones and prevent meningitis. I am honored to partner with the American Society for Meningitis Prevention and the Confederation of Meningitis Organizations to help defeat meningitis across the United States and globally. My most recent opportunity to share my story was just published this week with Patient Worthy, a platform to provide news and support for those affected by rare diseases.
I am also passionate about childhood vaccination, including bacterial meningitis and COVID-19. I believe that if only one person, parent, or teen decides to learn more about protecting themselves and their family from hearing my story, then I will have succeeded in my mission.
One life lost is too many. No child or family deserves the suffering that bacterial meningitis can bring. Until my story is no longer needed and no lives are being shattered by this disease, I will continue with my efforts. I am grateful for every opportunity, partnership, and ounce of support that I have on this journey. For all of the hardship, advocacy has brought many incredible people, opportunities, and love into my life. I often say this isn’t a dream that I knew that I had, but by still being here, able to sit tall, speak my truth, and share my heart to help protect others is truly a dream come true.
I’m sharing posts reflecting on the impacts bacterial meningitis has made on my life for the next few weeks leading up to March 2, 2025, the 20th anniversary of my journey. For more information about bacterial meningitis talk to you or your child’s doctor, visit https://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/about/bacterial-meningitis.html and meningitisprevention.org.
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