Adam Busuttil
ASMP Advocate

I was a healthy college student majoring in music education and marching in a drum line as part of a Big Ten band when I almost lost my life to meningococcal disease. My symptoms started like a cold or flu. I fell in the shower, and while doctors were treating the injuries related to the fall, I went into septic shock. That was when I was diagnosed with meningitis. I lost parts of seven fingers and four toes to the disease. I spent a year in therapy relearning everyday tasks and how to play percussion instruments.

Now, as a high school music teacher, I am also an advocate for meningococcal disease education and prevention. I feel it’s important to share my experience so my students don’t have to go through the same ordeals I did. I hope that people learn from my experience and get vaccinated.