Tina von Stade
ASMP Advocate

I’m an extremely proud and grateful mother to my son, Dash. From the moment he was born, smiling and full of light, I knew he was here for a special reason. One of those reasons, I believe, is to help others understand just how serious meningitis can be and how lives can be saved through awareness and prevention. 

In August 2018, just weeks before Dash was set to leave for his freshman year of college, he woke up one morning vomiting with a fever. We assumed it was the flu. But as the day went on, he grew worse, and my “mom alert” went off. When a telehealth nurse asked if he could move his neck, and he could barely do so, we were told to go to the emergency room immediately. 

Within hours, Dash was in critical condition. His heart rate was dangerously high, his blood pressure extremely low, and the words “sepsis” and “septic shock” suddenly became part of our reality. He was rushed into intensive care as doctors, nurses, and specialists worked quickly around him. I remember feeling completely helpless and thinking, very clearly, that I might lose my son. 

After two days in the ICU, an infectious disease doctor confirmed the diagnosis: serogroup B meningococcal disease. I was told it was the kind of illness where someone could be here one minute and gone the next. Thankfully, Dash survived, but the experience forever changed our family. Even years later, the trauma of those days stays with me. 

Today, Dash is healthy and thriving, and I don’t take a single day for granted. I share our story because no family should have to learn about meningitis the hard way. Through education, awareness, and prevention, we can protect more young people. Especially those preparing for college and spare other families from the fear we experienced.