Barry Kesselman
ASMP Advocate

Thirty-four years ago, in March, I was a 15-year-old sophomore in high school. My father had recently passed away, and my family was sitting shivah for the week. I had been out of school for almost a week, but since I had already missed so many days, I decided to return on the last day of shivah.

By lunchtime, I developed a fever of 101°F and came home early. My mom told me to stay in my room so I wouldn’t get anyone else sick. Concerned, she called our doctor, who suspected scarlet fever, and advised her to give me an ice bath.

My fever continued to rise, and a purplish rash spread across my body. Alarmed, my mom took me to a nearby ER. A nurse noticed the rash and immediately said, “Test him for meningitis!” Later that evening, a spinal tap confirmed that I had meningococcemia. I was then transferred to a larger hospital for specialized care.

It was a terrifying time. At one point, I "saw the light," and my father appeared to me, saying, “Go back. It’s not your time.” I spent a week in the ICU, followed by months in the hospital recovering, and then six months of physical therapy.

The lasting effects of meningococcemia have left me with scars all over my body, along with arthritis in my ankles and wrists. But I consider myself one of the lucky ones.

Although meningococcal vaccines weren't available when I was a teen, I am now an advocate with the American Society for Meningitis Prevention to help ensure that no one else has to suffer from this preventable disease.