Callan McMillion
ASMP Advocate

I lost my sister Caitlin in 2006 to meningococcal meningitis. She was just 18 years old, a college freshman, a hard worker, and someone who lit up every room she entered. Caitlin died from vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis within 24 hours of symptom onset.

For her freshman year, Caitlin was living at home and commuting. At the time, my mom and Caitlin had talked about getting the meningitis vaccine before Caitlin moved to the main campus for her sophomore year. Because it wasn’t required, especially for students who commuted, they decided to wait. They made that choice with the best information available and trusted that they were doing what was right.

During finals week, Caitlin was exhausted. She was juggling school and three jobs, staying up late to study, and pushing herself the way so many college students do. What started as flu-like symptoms escalated quickly. The following morning, she went to the doctor and was quickly transferred to the hospital because of concerns about meningitis due to bruising on her body. But by the time meningitis was recognized, and she was airlifted to a bigger hospital, it was already too late. Most of our family didn’t arrive in time to say goodbye.

Learning that Caitlin’s illness was vaccine-preventable changed our family. 

Her death fuels my passion for my job in local public health. As a public health educator for my county, I have the opportunity to understand how gaps in information, access, and policy can shape outcomes for families like mine and how those gaps can be closed.

Caitlin should be here. She should have become a teacher, shared her love of learning, and lived the life she dreamed of. She should have stood beside me at my wedding instead of being honored with her favorite flower in my bouquet. Instead of hanging her empty stocking each year, we should be out shopping for Christmas together.

I advocate so families have clear, science-based information and real access to lifesaving vaccines, without confusion, barriers, or delays. No family should lose a loved one to a vaccine-preventable disease. If sharing Caitlin’s story helps protect even one family, then her life and her light continue to matter.