Americas Regional Members
All of CoMO's member organisations (Full Members and Associate Members) and Friends within the Americas are on this page.
Member Organisations
The American Society for Meningitis Prevention (USA)
The American Society for Meningitis Prevention (ASMP), formerly known as the Meningitis B Action Project, is a nonprofit organization born out of the vision and resilience of two mothers, Patti Wukovits and Alicia Stillman.
Patti Wukovits and Alicia Stillman each lost their young, healthy daughters too soon to Meningitis B, a disease that is now preventable through vaccination. In 2012, high school senior Kimberly, 17, Patti’s daughter, died one week before her graduation. In 2013, college sophomore Emily, 19, Alicia’s daughter, died just 36 hours after her first symptoms.
In 2014, to educate the public about meningococcal meningitis and meningitis vaccination, both mothers established foundations named after their daughters—the Kimberly Coffey Foundation and the Emily Stillman Foundation. In addition to running their Foundations, Patti and Alicia have now joined forces to launch ASMP to make sure other families don’t needlessly suffer the same fate.
ASMP works to empower all people to take action to prevent meningococcal meningitis. Our key focus areas: 1) Patient and parent education: educate adolescents, young adults, and their parents about how to prevent meningitis. 2) Healthcare provider education: mobilize providers to prioritize comprehensive meningitis prevention. 3) Policy advancement: achieve comprehensive national, state, and school meningitis prevention policies. 4) Vaccination equity: improve equitable access to meningitis prevention. 5) Advocacy training: catalyze a national network of meningitis advocates.
For more information visit: meningitisprevention.org.
The Avnee Foundation (Florida, USA)
The Avnee Foundation was created by Amit and Melissa Rawal, who lost their first child, Avnee, due to Meningitis B at the age of five months in 2013.
The mission of the Avnee Foundation is to beat Meningitis B through education, advocacy, and increased vaccination. The Avnee Foundation, a fund under the Community Foundation of North Central Florida, is made up of physicians, health care professionals, researchers, parents, students, and educators that share a passion for preventing the devastating consequences of meningococcal disease. To achieve its mission, the Foundation develops and supports programs that promote education about, advocacy for, and uptake of vaccines for meningococcal disease.
For more information visit the Avnee Foundation website.
Associação Brasileira de Combate a Meningite (Brazil)
The Brazilian Association to Combat Meningitis (ABM) emerged after the president and founder, Suelen Caroline was forced to face meningitis when her son, João Marcos, contracted the disease. Fortunately, João Marcos, "the warrior" won his fight against meningitis. With the motivation to make people aware about vaccination, the danger of the disease and to help them to win against it, the idea of creating an association that could empower people affected by meningitis, and provide information and access to vaccines, arose. Today we are a group of friends sharing the same dream and the same vision.
For more information, visit their website.
Becky Werner Meningitis Foundation (Wisconsin, USA)
The Becky Werner Meningitis Foundation was set up in 2006 after the co-founders’ daughter, Becky, lost her life to the disease. Read Bob and Dee Dee’s Story.
A non-profit organisation, the Becky Werner Meningitis Foundation raises awareness of the dangers of meningitis and methods of prevention, educates the public and medical communities about meningitis, funds research at the Medical College of Wisconsin and provides support to families affected by meningitis, including giving vaccines to those who can’t afford them.
For more information, contact Bob or Dee Dee Werner on +1 262 363 3057, email the foundation or visit the Becky Werner Meningitis Foundation website.
Dylan McNeil Foundation (Oregon, USA)
After two-year-old Dylan lost his battle to pneumococcal meningitis in 2009, his mother Sabrina set up the Dylan McNeil Foundation to raise money for research and prevention of meningitis. Read Sabrina’s Story.
Working to inform parents of the importance of vaccination, and the signs and symptoms of the disease, the Foundation has also raised over $32,000 for research at St Jude Children’s Hospital in Tennessee.
For more information, contact Sabrina McNeil on +1 541 944 5322, email the Foundation or visit the Dylan McNeil Foundation website.
Emily’s Dash Foundation (Pennsylvania, USA)
The Emily’s Dash Foundation (EDF) is a non-profit, donor – advised fund organised under the auspices of the Chester County Community Foundation (CCCF) in the USA. The EDF was established in memory of Emily Grace Koenig by her parents. Emily was a perfectly healthy child until she contracted bacterial meningitis that suddenly took her life at just 12 years of age.
By building awareness of meningitis and through extensive fundraising, Emily's Dash Foundation is committed to eradicating bacterial meningitis. For more information visit the Emily’s Dash Foundation website.
The Emily Stillman Foundation (Michigan, USA)
The Emily Stillman Foundation was created in 2014 in memory of Emily Stillman, a 19 year old college sophomore who died from serogroup B meningococcal disease. Read Alicia's story.
The mission of the Foundation is twofold. Firstly, they resolve to raise awareness of all strains of meningococcal disease. They accomplish this through ongoing education and organized vaccination programs. Secondly, they resolve to raise awareness of and encourage organ/tissue donation. In addition, they offer assistance to families who have been affected by either of these two issues. The goal of the Foundation is to create a world where all strains of Meningococcal Disease are eradicated and there is no longer a “waiting list” for those in need of an organ transplant.
For more information, contact Alicia Stillman on +1 248-568-8014, email Alicia, or visit the Emily Stillman Foundation website.
Fundacion Illyria Velasco Carranza (Mexico)
Fundacion Illyria Velasco Carranza promotes vaccination, provides information to the general public about meningitis, and encourages doctors to talk to their patients about the importance of prevention through vaccination.
Haitian Union against Meningitis (UNHAM)
The Haitian Union against Meningitis (UNHAM) was created in 2021 by volunteers and health professionals after the passage of the earthquake in the great south of Haiti but on the initiative of Mr. Jean-Claude Dorsainvil. UNHAM is very proud to continue the hard work of being the voice against meningitis in Haiti. UNHAM aims to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by the aftermath of meningitis by empowering them to heal and rebuild. There is also the cholera epidemic which is wreaking havoc in Haiti so not only are they fighting meningitis, they are also fighting the cholera epidemic in Haiti.
As a young organization, they seek the solidarity and cooperation of CoMO members and international organizations that want to establish cooperative links with the Haitian Union against Meningitis (UNHAM). The socio-political crisis and the climate of insecurity in Haiti prevents them from going throughout Haiti, but despite all this problem the Haitian Union against Meningitis (UNHAM) continues its activities to fight meningitis in Haiti.
UNHAM provides information on meningitis symptoms to raise awareness and promote vaccinations across Haiti. They do training programs and also have projects to fight against meningitis in rural and urban areas of Haiti. People dealing with meningitis and the cholera epidemic will be treated with the implementation of several projects to combat meningitis in Haiti.
UNHAM works to educate and sensitize the public and healthcare professionals about meningitis in Haiti in order to prevent death and disability from the disease. UNHAM also provides support services including bereavement counseling and financial assistance to people affected by meningitis in rural and urban areas of Haiti.
You can contact them and make a donation to fight meningitis in Haiti with the following details:
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Executive Director: Jean-Claude Dorsainvil
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Haitian Union Against Meningitis (HUAM)
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Phone: (+509) 36508254
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Email: meningitisofficehaiti@gmail.com.
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Website: www.meningitishaiti.org (non-operational).
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P.O.Box 13042 Delmas, Northeast, Fort-Liberte, Haiti, Port au Prince, Haiti.
Hospital del Niño Morelense, Morelos Children's Hospital (Mexico)
Our hospital it is a three story building that is 100% paediatric and we have patients from 0 years and months up to 17 to 11m 29 days. We have an emergency area, a paediatric area and neonatal intensive care unit. Meningitis is preventable in our population with the application of the vaccination scheme in all children from 2 months to 5 years, as well as to the population of 6 years and adults with risk factors.
For more information, please contact Dr Carlos Nicolas del Rio Almendarez on +527771201512 or visit Hospital del Niño Morelense's website.
The Immunization Partnership (Houston, USA)
Since 2002, The Immunization Partnership (TIP) has worked to promote the prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases in Houston, Texas. It does this through community education, advocating for evidence-based public policy and supporting immunisation best practices.
TIP’s Immunization Champion project that took place in 22 clinics over four years raised immunisation rates from 3% to 100%. TIP also helped establish a robust immunisation coalition-building project.
TIP has designed and promoted many positive immunisation bills and worked with The J.A.M.I.E. Group and the Williams family to make the Jamie Schanbaum / Nicolis Williams Act law in Texas in 2011. This law now means all new college students will be vaccinated against the disease.
For more information, please email Rekha Lakshmanan or visit The Immunization Partnership website.
The J.A.M.I.E. Group (Austin, USA)
The Joint Advocacy of Meningococcal Information and Education (or J.A.M.I.E.) Group was set up in 2009 to help meningitis survivor Jamie Schanbaum share her experiences and knowledge about meningitis so that others can avoid this devastating but preventable disease.
The organisation helps lead the fight against meningitis through education and community awareness and by advocating for increased information for students, parents, teachers and the medical profession. The J.A.M.I.E. Group worked with the The Immunization Partnership and the Williams family to make the Jamie Schanbaum / Nicolis Williams Act law in Texas in 2011, which now means that all new college students will be vaccinated against the disease.
Patsy Schanbaum from The J.A.M.I.E. Group is our Americas Regional Coordinator. For more information, contact Patsy on +1 512 468 6654, email Patsy or visit The J.A.M.I.E. Group website.
The Kimberly Coffey Foundation (New York, USA)
The Kimberly Coffey Foundation was established in memory of the founder's daughter, Kimberly Coffey, a 17-year-old high school senior from Long Island, New York. Kimberly contracted and died from bacterial meningitis in 2012 just three months before starting her college education to pursue her dream of becoming a pediatric nurse. Kimberly had been up to date on all vaccinations, including meningococcal disease, but she contracted serogroup B meningococcal disease, which did not, at the time, have a vaccine. Read Kimberly's story.
In addition to education about meningococcal disease, a very large part of the Foundation’s national awareness and education campaign is to spread awareness of the necessity to be protected by vaccination against all five of the most common serogroups, including serogroup B, which accounts for approximately half of all meningococcal disease among persons aged 17-22 years in the USA. For more information, contact Patti Wukovits, RN by emailing the foundation or visit the Kimberly Coffey Foundation website.
The Latisha Marie Foundation (Georgia, USA)
The Latisha Marie Foundation was founded in 2022 by Laprice Shari. Laprice lost her sister to meningitis in 1995, she was only 19 years old. Latisha contracted meningitis days before her first birthday, she spent the majority of her life at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis, MO.
As a nonprofit organization, The Latisha Marie Foundation aims to educate the community about meningitis, the importance of vaccinations and support families dealing with the disease.
Visit The Latisha Marie Foundation's website for more information.
The Lion Heart Challenge (California, USA)
The goal of the Lion Heart Challenge is to raise as much awareness as possible for meningitis. Everyone should know the symptoms, and how dangerous this disease is if not treated right away. Alex Flatley founded the Lion Heart Challenge after suffering himself from Meningitis. Read Alex’s Story.
Now, he wants to ask the citizens of the US if they have the heart of a lion! He is trying to raise as much awareness about this disease and the possible methods of prevention so no one has to suffer from the horrible side effects. Alex also runs an annual event to raise money and awareness for meningitis via multiple activities.
“We are hoping everyone can come together to help eradicate this disease.”
For more information please ring Alex on +1 (650)815-5425, email Alex or visit the Lion Heart Challenge's Facebook Page.
Meningitis Awareness Key to prevention (California, USA)
Meningitis Awareness Key to prevention (MAK) is a non-profit health education organisation founded in 2000 after the founder’s daughter MaryJo lost her life suddenly to meningococcal meningitis. Read Rose and MaryJo’s Story.
MAK is dedicated to increasing public awareness about meningococcal meningitis, its symptoms and transmission, debilitating effects, risks and prevention measures. It provides up-to-date information through awareness presentations with adolescents and young adults, supports meningitis legislation, promotes vaccination and collaborates with other organisations in the prevention of meningitis.
For more information, contact Rose Kwett on +1 916 484 0822 or +1 916 261 0822, email Rose or visit the MAK website.
Meningitis Foundation of America (Arizona, USA)
Established in 1997, the Meningitis Foundation of America (MFA) was the first national non-profit in the USA dedicated to the education, vaccination and eradication of meningitis. It was founded by Dave Spilker, whose son was diagnosed with meningitis at 5 months old.
MFA works to support survivors of meningitis and their families through support groups, as well as advocating for research into the prevention and long-term effects of various meningitis strains, and facilitating programs to educate the public about the causes and symptoms of meningitis. It also provides scholarships for children who have had meningitis to attend summer camp through its Camp Riley Program.
MeningitisBC.org (British Columbia, Canada)
MeningitisBC.org is a Canadian charity that works in the State of British Columbia. The organisation, which is run by dedicated to parents who have lost their children to meningitis, focuses on vaccine promotion within the British Columbian Region.
The charity's main campaigning activies involve lobbying the British Columbian government to implement meningitis vaccines within their public immunisation programme, and advocating for health insurance providers to cover the cost of vaccinations.
In addition to educating parents, caregivers, teachers and students about meningitis and the importance of vaccination, MeningitisBC.org also host vaccination clinics for British Columbian residents.
For more information, visit their Facebook here.
Meningitis Relief Canada (Ontario, Canada)
Meningitis Relief Canada (MRC) is a registered not for profit charitable organisation that was founded in 2012. MRC aims to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by the after -effects of meningitis by providing means to heal and rebuild. MRC works to educate and raise awareness of meningitis in Canada, amongst the public and healthcare professionals to prevent death and disability from the disease. MRC also provides support services including grief and bereavement counselling and financial assistance to individuals affected by meningitis in Canada.
For more information please email or visit the Meningitis Relief Canada (MRC) website.
Meningitis Foundation Canada (Waterloo, Canada)
The Meningitis Foundation Canada (MFC) was founded by Kathryn Blain in 1998 after she lost her 19-year-old son, Michael. Read Kathryn and Michael’s story.
MFC was the first national charitable foundation in Canada dedicated to raising awareness of meningitis. MFC advocates for vaccine awareness and uptake to improve survival rates and outcomes, to support families of those whose lives have been forever changed by this disease. Our primary focus is patient advocacy for improved health in Canada. Meningitis continues to have an impact that is devastating and debilitating to the youth in Canada. Obstacles exist from lack of understanding of what preventative measures can be taken to avoid the transfer of disease, and most importantly what vaccine options are available for the various strains. We will continue to do our part to Defeat Meningitis.
For more information please visit the MFC website.
The Plum Foundation (Georgia, USA)
After my daughter, Rilee-Kate, passed away from bacterial meningitis caused by late onset Group B Strep, it became evident to me that there was simply not enough awareness about the very real danger that meningitis can cause. My goal in creating a foundation in honor of my daughter is to work towards a future where no parent has to experience the kind of loss that myself and many others have experienced.
Visit The Plum Foundation's facebook page here.
The PAMAH Foundation (Georgia, USA)
The PAMAH Foundation was founded by Shaquille Hodge. Shaquille lost his wife Percilla to meningitis in July 2018. The PAMAH Foundation’s mission is to educate its community on the dangers of meningitis and the importance of vaccinations through advocacy, education, and granting access to community health and wellness programs while serving families adversely affected by meningitis.
For more information, contact Danielle Hodge @ info@pamahfoundation.org or visit their website.
The Ryan Martin Foundation (Missouri, USA)
The Ryan Martin Foundation was founded in 2014 by Bryan and Courtney Martin in memory of their son, Ryan, who died from bacterial meningitis at just 14 months of age. Read Courtney and Bryan's Story.
The charity's mission is to give back to those who need help in Ryan's name. As part of this, they promote awareness of meningitis, support other families dealing with the effects of meningitis and also have a scholarship fund in Ryan's name.
To find out more, email Courtney or visit the Ryan Martin Foundation Facebook Page.
Una Vida por Dakota (Peru)
The organisation ‘Una Vida por Dakota’ (One life for Dakota) has been working to raise public awareness of meningococcal meningitis since 2014 in addition to advocacy work to include the vaccine against meningococcal meningitis in the National Immunisation schedule. They have spent the last year carrying out educational talks in schools, workshops for parents and interviews with a range of media, both nationally and internationally.
‘Una Vida por Dakota’, is planning to build strong links and to join hands with other organisations which have the same objective to erradicate meningococcal meningitis in Peru as well as worldwide. As CoMO's first Peruvian member, we want to become a member so that people are made aware of the fact that this illness does not only exist in our country, but in the whole world and that there are other organisations that have the same objective, to inform and protect people from meningitis.
Follow Una Vida por Dakota on Facebook and Twitter. Visit the Una Vida por Dakota website.
Unity Consortium (Pennsylvania, USA)
UNITY Consortium's mission is to raise vaccination rates in adolescents by educating young people and their parents and providing supporting resources for healthcare providers. In addition to education, UNITY Consortium facilitates programmes and studies with actionable results to increase visibility in the community.
UNITY recognises the importance of preventing meningitis worldwide and is committed to raising awareness about the disease, while advocating for vaccinations around the world.
For more information visit the UNITY Consortium website.
Friends of CoMO
Mary Clough - Canada
My name is Mary Clough, and I live in Ontario, Canada. February 26, 2005 – that is the day that changed our lives forever. Our eldest daughter, MacKenzie, died from a devastating disease – bacterial meningitis. Our family didn’t know what bacterial meningitis was or that there was a vaccine available that could have prevented her death.
In less than 24 hours, our beautiful daughter went from a healthy 19-year-old in her first year of college to losing her battle to this disease.
When MacKenzie died, I was searching for answers, and I connected with Kathryn Blain, founder of the Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada (MRFC). Since then, I have worked to raise awareness of this horrible disease and what can be done to prevent it: educate and vaccinate. Proceeds from our fundraising efforts have supported the MRFC in our shared cause.
For the past 10 years, I also have volunteered at a local hospice, working with children who are dealing with grief – and helping me to deal with my own grief.
Being a friend of CoMO connects me with other people around the world who are focused on the same mission – to raise awareness of this horrible disease, support families who have been affected and advocate for meningitis prevention through available vaccines.
Lesley Thompson - Colorado, USA
Our two year old grandson, Kale, died in 2017 from bacterial meningitis. It was in the midst of flu season and his symptoms mirrored the ones from the seasonal flu. It was a horrific 5 days with him on life support and finally his precious little body gave out. We want to spread the word about the availability of vaccines and help other families avoid the tragic outcomes of this vaccine preventable disease.
You can get in touch with Lesley by emailing her.
Regan Rogerson - Ontario, Canada
Meningitis has had a profound impact on my life after losing my brother. He was a father, a son, a husband, a teacher and a compassionate and kind human being who did not deserve this fate. After several years of deeply mourning his loss I made a decision that I wanted to harness this energy and put it towards something more positive. Using my film and marketing background I began work with the Meningitis Research Foundation in Canada and eventually COMO where I was able to assist in spreading our message in hopes that collectively we can assist others in avoiding the loss that many of us have experienced to this terrible disease.
Dr Iffat Iqbal - Ontario, Canada
I am Iffat Iqbal, an International Medical Graduate from Ontario Canada. Being in the field of medicine, managing and dealing meningitis patients is very common. I cannot forget that 12-year-old boy who lost his life while having seizures and had decreased level of consciousness. He was a diagnosed case of bacterial meningitis but was brought late. After that incidence, I never forget to tell people the red flags and dangerous combination of fever, headache, neck stiffness, photophobia and decreased level of consciousness. Being a Friend of CoMO, I want to defeat meningitis through health advocacy, spreading awareness and fight meningitis with all.
Samantha Bennett - Columbus, USA
I am a meningitis survivor. I have spent years advocating for meningitis and ready to become more active in the global effort. I rock the paintbrush. Amputee. Bacterial meningitis survivor with scars to prove it. Create art for good causes.
Gary Zlotnick - Texas, USA
I was involved in R&D for meningococcal vaccines. I am an advocate for vaccines in general and have particular experience in the discovery and development of vaccines for the prevention of group B meningococcal disease.
Laura Parkerson - Arkansas, USA
I lost my youngest child, my son Alb, to bacterial meningitis. As a nurse, I picked up on the cues and got him help as soon as I realized he was battling something much greater than an ear infection. Unfortunately, Alb’s little body could not recover from the damage done. Today, I continue to work as a nurse in the primary care setting and share Alb’s story in an effort to raise awareness.
Taylor Barker - Ontario, Canada
After learning about our son's diagnosis, we were so confused. How could he have this? doesn't this only happen in low income countries? We were naive. We were never told the dangers or symptoms to watch for. We even brought our 13 day old into a local ER only to be told "it may be an infection, go home and monitor it". The next day we rushed him to a children's hospital where they acted fast to save his life. He presented with grunting, fever & lethargic. He was diagnosed with GBS meningitis and Septicaemia. We hope to spread awareness, because this can happen to anyone, any age. We are still new to the meningitis survivor family but we plan to spend our lives finding a way to prevent this from happening to someone else.
Maureen Moore - Texas, USA
Maureen's experience with the immunization world began in 1998 when she became manager of Houston's federally-funded Vaccines for Children program which supplied free-of-charge vaccines to over 350 clinics. In 2008 she took a position with The Immunization Partnership (TIP) and that very year attended her first CoMO global conference in Orlando, FL. She retired from TIP in early 2016 but continues serving in a volunteer capacity as Co-Chair of the Immunization Coalition of Greater Houston as well as volunteering with the Immunization Project at Texas Children's Hospital.
Nichole Errington - Florida, USA
In Dec 2021, my (then) 6 yr old, who had always been perfectly healthy, contracted a rare bacterial meningitis influenza A. He spent 33 days in the hospital, had emergency brain surgery, resulting in a brain shunt and ultimately losing his hearing. We have been told my multiple doctors that our quick action to get him medical treatment saved his life. I would like to join the effort to raise awareness and eradicate this terrible disease from the planet and keep our kids safe.
Carlos Mesa - Costa Rica
ESP: Fui diagnosticado cuando tenía 6 meses de edad y el médico le dijo a mis padres que en el futuro tendría problemas de desarrollo, vista u otros. Hasta el momento Dios me ha protegido, quisiera devolver un poco de esta benevolencia ayudando a otros que han sufrido la enfermedad.
EN: I was diagnosed when I was 6 months old and the doctor told my parents I would face future developmental problems, vision problems, among others. Up until this moment God has protected me and so I would like to give back some of this benevolence by helping others who have suffered from this illness.
Hiwot Jewore - California, USA
I am conducting literature based research on the overall pathophysiology and epidemiology of Neisseria meninigitidis. I would like to support action plans like vaccination campaigns, advanced diagnostic measures and aftercare treatment for meningitis patients.
I would like to focus on prevention in ethiopia and other meningitis belt countries.
María Isabella Rubiano Mogollón - Columbia
Hello, my name is Maria and I am very interested in biology, microbiology and genetics, at the same time I am passionate about learning about the advances in Meningitis and helping to spread awareness.
John B. Grimes - Texas, USA
As someone who beat the odds and survived meningitis, I feel compelled to use my story to educate others about this rare disease. I host a podcast called Ambiguously Blind where we discuss my story, talk with meningitis survivors and others who have faced adversity, overcome life’s challenges and people thriving with vision loss.
Check out John's podcasts here: www.ambiguouslyblind.com
Faiza Ahmed - Ontario, Canada
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I am Faiza Ahmed from Ontario, Canada. I am a licensed doctor in Pakistan and pursuing my medical license in Canada. Being trained in an underdeveloped country to working in a developed country, I have seen many complications including the death of people with a disease which is preventable. I have always advocated for vaccines and prophylactic treatments of closed contacts where necessary. There have been recent outbreaks of Meningococcal meningitis among high-risk people. Being a friend of COMO, I would like to spread awareness and help families to avoid the outcomes of this vaccine-preventable disease.
James Hunter Stitt - New York, USA
I was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis about a week after the onset of symptoms. I was told that my negative COVID tests were false negatives and I should only go to the hospital if I could not breathe. My fever was 107 degrees Fahrenheit and above for an entire week. I was covered in blisters and could not move my body or open my eyes. I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. At the hospital, there was no room because of the COVID patients. I received no treatment, no food, no water, and no blanket. I discharged myself because no one brought me food or water or checked on me for over 12 hours. When I got home, I knew I was about to die. The hospital eventually called me when my blood results came back with neisseria meningitidis. I went back to the hospital, still with no bed, minimal food, and occasional water/IV saline. I recovered from the illness but I have many after effects like hearing loss, constant fatigue, frequent headaches, memory loss (long and short term), brain fog, loss of coordination, and skin scarring. I want to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and the availability of both menB and menACWY vaccines and the importance of getting both.
Nichole Bonney - New York, USA
I had bacterial meningitis and still experience many health issues. Life after bacterial meningitis is a life-time fight. It is a silent pain.
Justin Holahan - Colorado, USA
Rachel Mains - Virginia, USA
I’ve personally suffered from both bacterial and viral meningitis - thankfully I was one of the lucky ones and made a full recovery; however, I’ve lost loved ones from bacterial meningitis. Therefore, I’d like to partner with a worldwide organization, not only to help spread awareness globally, but to make an impact through fundraising, as well.
Lucie Marisa Bucci - Canada
Ms. Bucci is a public health consultant at Bucci-Hepworth Health Services where she advocates for evidence-based decision-making and practice in public health, and studies immunization-related issues (e.g., vaccine hesitancy, immunization policy and programs) that impact routine immunizations against diseases such as meningococcal in children and adults. She is also the Director, Policy and Government Relations at the Society for Intelligence Management (SIM), and has more than twenty years of experience in health policy.
Previously, she was a research associate at the Centre de recherche en droit public at l’Université de Montréal and the Centre for Genomics and Policy at McGill University’s and Genome Québec’s Innovation Centre. Between 2010 and 2022, she was the senior manager of Immunize Canada and a liaison member to the Canadian Nurses Coalition on Immunization (CNCI). She was a member of the Elimination of Cervical Cancer Advisory Committee and the WHO’s Vaccine Safety Network (VSN) Advisory Committee. She also served as Chair of the VSN’s research working group. She currently represents the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) as a liaison representative to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). She is the co-chair of the Working Group to Increase Vaccination Rates in Adults with Respiratory Issues and is a member of the HELPinKIDS&ADULTS team at the University of Toronto where she contributes to research on improving the vaccination experience.
Fernando - USA
Meningitis is a disease not to be played with. If not taken seriously it can take your life. I am a surviver to this disease, which affected me 20 years ago.
Isaís Cáceres - Venezuela
I work as a laboratory manager in a cerebrospinal fluid processing laboratory, where cytochemical and cytomorphological determination is performed. The lab is located in the Neurology service of Hospital Vargas in Caracas. I am working to prevent meningitis and hope to raise awareness among the population about the prevention and care of meningitis.
Andy Marso - Minnesota, USA
Andy Marso survived meningitis in 2004, when he was a senior at the University of Kansas.
He spent 141 days in the hospital and lost parts of all four limbs. Since then he has been an advocate for vaccination and published a memoir about his experience called Worth the Pain.
Read Andy's full story on Meningitis In Your Words.
Crystal Strohm - Minnesota, USA
My baby girl was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis at three days of life. She was dying when we arrived at the hospital. Thankfully with the help of the amazing doctors and nurses she survived. She is a very happy baby girl but she continues to have a lot of obstacles that have been caused by the meningitis.
I knew of meningitis but never thought that it was still a prevalent threat. This disease is still here and is still a threat to any person regardless of where you live or how much you make. I hope to continue to spread awareness, to gain support and help eradicate this horrible disease.
Carlos Culki - Ecuador
I am a doctor in my country in Ecuador, but I learned about the existence of CoMO due to a situation that I experienced.
I have a daughter who is 9 months old today, but at 24 days old she presented with fever and irritability, the diagnosis was Meningitis, I can say that facing the disease as a health professional is not the same as facing the disease as a patient.
During my daughter's hospitalization, I had a lot to think about and, apart from the uncertainty about her condition, I got to know about CoMO, and now, thank God, my daughter seems to be fine and although we continue undergoing check-ups and therapies, I think we have been very lucky. Seeing this situation, I have the desire to learn more and raise awareness about this terrible disease and try to help as much as I can as a doctor and as a patient's family member.
Francesca Testa - Connecticut, USA
I was a diagnosed with meningococcemia when I was 17 years old, but luckily I survived. I went from being a vibrant teenager to fighting for my life with a 20% chance of survival within 24 hours. I had to relearn how to walk and suffer from cognitive delays and hearing vision loss to this day. Now I am 35 years old and finishing a law degree with a concentration in health law to promote and encourage pro- vaccination policy and education for all.
Shannon O'Neill - Pennsylvania, USA
When I was 5 years old, my mother and I both had meningococcal meningitis. Thanks to our doctors, we were the first to survive the disease in the state of New Jersey. I’d like to help others avoid this terrible infection, and to help survivors to deal with the long term effects.
Jayme Fahrer - New Jersey, USA
In 2009, I fought and survived bacterial meningitis. From there, I have transformed into a warrior that uses my art, my words, and my personality to bring awareness about this horrible disease. Additionally, I share and discuss the inevitable after effects that it had on me. I create and share all of it, so others may not feel so alone and so others do not suffer.
Matt Goodwin - Washington State, USA
In 2009, I fought and survived bacterial meningitis. From there, I have transformed into a warrior that uses my art, my words, and my personality to bring awareness about this horrible disease. Additionally, I share and discuss the inevitable after effects that it had on me. I create and share all of it, so others may not feel so alone and so others do not suffer.
Dr Shivana Ramsingh - Florida, USA
Dr. Shivana Ramsingh is married to a Meningitis Survivor. After experiencing the ordeal first hand of seeing her loved one lose his limbs from the complications of Meningitis, she wishes to join in the fight to eradicate it, reduce as much limb loss as possible, by advocating for early detection and prompt intervention of symmetrical peripheral gangrene by mobilizing health care personnel via quick online EPIC or EMR alerts to mobilize the necessary specialities in proactive rather reactive measures in this very time-sensitive matter.
