Kayla March
ASMP Advocate

Just one week before graduating from Penn State, I was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis — a disease that nearly took my life.

What initially seemed like the flu quickly became much more serious. I was experiencing severe neck pain, confusion, difficulty speaking, and pain so intense I could barely sit upright. After being evaluated at urgent care, I was sent home with an initial diagnosis of a virus. The next day, I was so weak that my boyfriend had to carry me to the car to go to the emergency room, where I was again misdiagnosed, this time with mononucleosis.

Fortunately, my mother, who is a nurse, knew something was terribly wrong. When she arrived at the hospital, she pushed for further testing and insisted that another doctor evaluate me. The new doctor performed a spinal tap because my mom suspected bacterial meningitis. That decision ultimately saved my life.

Just days later, doctors told me I would not be able to walk across the stage at graduation. Yet, by Saturday, I was sitting in my cap and gown with an IV in my arm, determined to celebrate a milestone I had worked for four years to achieve.

Walking across that stage remains one of the most meaningful moments of my life. It was a reminder that everything can change in an instant and that opportunities we often take for granted can disappear without warning.

My experience with meningitis taught me the importance of listening to your body, advocating for yourself, and seeking answers when something doesn't feel right. Today, I am grateful simply to be alive and to have the chance to pursue a future that almost slipped away. Through advocacy, I hope to raise awareness about meningitis and help prevent other families from experiencing the fear and uncertainty that mine faced.