Sue Koenig
ASMP Advocate

My daughter, Emily, was an enthusiastic and compassionate 12-year-old from Chester County, Pennsylvania. Her big heart, engaging smile, and quick sense of humor naturally drew people toward her. Emily had an extraordinary ability to make others feel welcome with her warm, embracing demeanor. She left a lasting impact on the lives of her family, friends, teachers at Villa Maria Academy, and everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Emily was involved in a variety of hobbies and interests throughout her life. She loved gymnastics, tennis, track, and lacrosse, and enjoyed traveling with her family and friends to some of their favorite vacation spots. One of her most cherished memories was a trip to Paris, which sparked a deep love for France and its culture.

On December 11, 2002, Emily’s life was tragically cut short. While visiting a local nursery with her father to pick out plants for a school science project, Emily was unknowingly exposed to meningococcal meningitis serogroup C by another customer who sneezed near her. In the days leading up to her illness, Emily had been her usual energetic self. However, just four days later, she became so weak that she could barely stand. What began as a mild sore throat and sniffles the night before quickly escalated to vomiting, prompting her parents to take her to the hospital.

Despite the initial diagnosis of a stomach flu from their family doctor, Emily’s condition rapidly deteriorated. By the time they arrived at Brandywine Hospital, her breathing had stopped. The hospital staff attempted to resuscitate her, but tragically, Emily passed away, succumbing to the devastating effects of meningococcal meningitis serogroup C.

In honor of Emily’s life and memory, her parents, Susan and Albert Koenig, along with their family, established Emily's Dash Foundation to raise awareness and advocate for meningitis prevention. Emily’s story continues to inspire and serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of quick action when it comes to this deadly disease.

Please note: The mission of The American Society for Meningitis Prevention (ASMP) is to empower individuals to take action to prevent meningococcal meningitis. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Koenig family for sharing Emily's story and helping raise awareness of meningococcal meningitis serogroup C.