That New Meningitis Vaccine: Raising A Son With Special Needs

They didn't think it was Meningitis. For Meningitis is so rare. Plus he already had a Seizure Disorder so that's what this was. He just lay there in the hospital bed becoming more and more non-responsive. Finally, my Mother-In-Law Doctor pulled the million dollar diagnoses out of the bag and suggested perhaps he had Bacterial Meningitis.  But by the time they got him into the procedure room to do a spinal tap, the test for Meningitis, he was falling into septic shock.  They called us into said room to say goodbye while they continued the procedure. I looked down on myself sitting there, knees pulled into my chest, shaking, while my little sweet 2 year old son slipped away.

And that type of drama continued for another week as that fighter son of ours lay in a coma for over 7 days. No one dared speak the words "critical condition," but we never wanted to leave his side in case...I told myself then, it was in case he woke up.  But it was equally for the other scenario...in case he died.

We are all lucky and blessed for he, our Willie,  lived. He is 23 now.  I write this blog about him. He is both my inspiration and my bondage.  For Willie developed profound Special Needs from his bout with Bacterial Meningitis.  Those Special Needs mean he will never drive, marry, or have children. He also cannot be left alone in public for he could either go with a stranger, get hit by a car, or do something socially disastrous.  Willie just stopped wetting the bed at the age of 23. He cannot do any simple math. He can barely write. His dream is to be an electric guitar musician, like Slash from Guns and Roses. Meningitis took that dream away and so many others.

Read my Blog for all of the most spectacular, fabulous traits and gifts Willie has brought our family. But when my second son was born, the Meningitis Vaccine was new, and you can bet I was first in line.  Just the other day at the Pediatricians' office, I asked if my 13 year old could get the new Meningitis Vaccine and unfortunately she has to wait until she is 16.

Get your children vaccinated. The new Meningitis vaccine is a gift. Information about that Vaccine can be found here:  http://www.meningitis.org/menb-vaccine. For Willie is one of the lucky ones. He survived Meningitis.  Most do not.