By Frankie Milley
Letter To The Editor

 

 

I, like Gail Bailey lost my son and only child to meningitis. ( Read Gail's Story )

 

CDC does recommend college freshmen living in dorms get vaccinated. This is not enough to protect our children against this deadly disease, but it is the best we have.

 

Hooray, for Rep. Kreibich for his efforts and care of the young people of Wisconsin.

 

Thousands of infants, children and young adults are infected with bacterial meningitis each year in the US.

 

Many are left with life long organ damage including deafness, blindness and brain damage. Many lose limbs or in some cases left paralyzed. They suffer with life long meningitis related illnesses.

 

Many die. ( Read Ryan's Story )

 

Working with other families who have been attached by this deadly vaccine preventable disease, I have found there is no limit to the pain and destruction it causes.

 

Meningitis took away our right to be called mom and dad, be the parent at a wedding, hold a grandchild, have the comfort of a child in our old age. It took away a big part of who we are.

 

To those who oppose legislation on education and vaccination for this disease. I would ask have you ever buried a child, signed papers to have limbs removed or to take them off life supports?

 

Have you had to deal with your teen or young adult on suicide watch because of the devastation to their body and mind from this disease? Have you seen your perfectly healthy college or high school student have to give up their dreams and have their life shattered?

 

Have you had to sit with your child 24 hours a day 7 days a week because they cannot go out in public because of the severe brain and body damage? My guess would be probably not.

 

To the legislators of Wisconsin you have a wonderful opportunity to at least protect the college kids in your state, I encourage you to support and pass Rep Kreibich's bill on this issue.

 

--Frankie Milley, mother to Ryan, died June 1998 Meningococcal Meningitis, Age 18

 

For more information, visit Meningitis-Angels.org.