Survivors Talk about Meningococcal Meningitis

The 2009 The Nancy Ford Springer Inspiration Award was recently awarded to Melanie Benn, John Kach, and Nick Springer. Watch the video to learn about their personal battle with meningitis and how they are helping to raise awareness for meningococcal meningitis.

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Nonprofits & Activism

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• meningitis

[DanielleLovesHorses]

I had Meningococcal Septicemia at 14 months old! I have had 100+ operations that invlolved long stays in hospital, including ilizarov frames where the doctors break the bone & frames hold your leg together to help it grow & streighten it out because my legs were all screwed... I had them on 3 seperate occasions. i also died a few times. but i'm doing ok now, still not over with the operations & never will be i think... check out my channel!

[thecolaratlady]

@hsgw0864 I'm so glad your fine sweetie. it can KILL very quickly, im 44, contracted it when i was like a week old, i still have long term problems that actually have gotten worse over the yrs.so inoculations are very important as well as knowing what symptoms to watch for, get to an er ASAP

[thecolaratlady]

@anch0rman13 ive been having leg pains, jerking, twitching, spasms for 44 yrs now. it can also go to the arms. is that what you are dealing with? i have to take an anti spasmotic, narcotic pain meds to keep it in check,im also on dialantin for seizures when it was discovered that i have epilepsy,, .it's gotten worse over the yrs, my hubby cant even sleep in the same bed with me anymore b/c of the jerking, twitching, spasms,sometimes violently.

[thecolaratlady]

2 of my maternal 2nd cousins DIED from the same type i had, 1 was 3 yrs old, the other was 2 months old. im beginning to wonder if it is inherited, if i'm a carrier

[thecolaratlady]

I contracted it when i was like a few days old,spent over a month in the hospital, they had to create a vacine for me and i'm 44 yrs old now, i have been suffering from hearing loss, rls, epilepsy, learning disabilities ever since.ask me how thrilled i am of having all these long term effects

[KTBfromOC]

My high school boyfriend contract Meningococcal when he was very young. He clinically died twice before the age of 5, but he survived... and was very lucky that he only lose his toes. I have seen what it can do to a person and what others can say and hurt them. Just watching this make me feel lucky to have known him and known that he survived. I only hope that in the future he will inspire other and his own children with his story.

[aidan2976]

melanie benn(in this talking ,the swimmer) is my aunt

[leejames1982]

@JoeyFudd trust me dude, i know first hand the symptoms to look out for :-)

[hsgw0864]

Very hummbling video, ive just come out of hosptal with nothing like what these people have been through. A very scary experience for family and persons involved, god bless you guys who keep goin despite being dealt such a hard card. xx

[JoeyFudd]

@leejames1982 I read about Melanie Benn's story in a magazine. Very important to act fast and to look out for a rash and a stiff neck. Melanie had no fever. So if you are not feeling well and get a rash and stiff neck, go to the hospital quickly and get on anti-biotic IV's. Also, if a roommate or someone in your group feels ill, always ask about their neck and check for a rash. It's a smart precaution, I think. Every college dorm should have an RA who checks for a rash & stiff neck just in case.