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In an award-winning photograph by Paul Vincent Kuntz, a photographer at Texas Children’s Hospital, a young woman stares fiercely at his lens. She is obviously strong, determined, and confident. But the black and white picture captures your attention also by what it does not show. The young woman leaning against a bicycle is missing most of her fingers and both of her feet.
The National Meningitis Association celebrates its 10 year anniversary. Much has been accomplished this past decade, but there is still work to be done to ensure all pre-teens and teens are protected against meningococcal disease.
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Watch this clip of Jamie helping to raise awareness about meningitis on NBC Houston.
Riding a bike is something we all learn to do when we're kids, and Jamie Schanbaum was no different. In 2008, she was a University of Texas student using her bike to get around Austin. "I was just a commuter. I wasn't a competitive cyclist at all," she said.
Now, she is a gold-medal-winning competitive cyclist, but the opportunity to become an accomplished rider came with a cost.
This educational and compelling video conveys the importance of young people receiving the meningococcal meningitis vaccine before going to college.
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On Sunday, October 23 the La Jolla Cove was transformed as it hosted the best day in triathlon for The Challenged Athletes Foundation. More than 200 challenged athletes, kids and permanently injured military personnel participating alongside 500+ able-bodied athletes, celebrities, sports legends and professional athletes took on the new “challenge distance” triathlon with a 1 mile swim, 44 mile bike, and 10 mile run. All told, the Aspen Medical Products San Diego Triathlon Challenge raised more than $1.2 million to fund adaptive sports equipment, training and competition expenses for individuals with physical challenges so they can live full and active lifestyles.
Jamie raced with a relay team representing The National Meningitis Association. Mike LaForgia a meningitis survivor from New York did the 1 mile swim, Anna who represented her boyfriend who is a meningitis survivor did the 10 mile run and Jamie did the 44 mile cycling course. It was clearly a challenged course for Jamie - 44 miles - ugh!! I complain if I have to drive 44 miles. But Jamie cycled the course and of course I was truly amazed. The course was an array of obstacles, beginning with fog and cold riding up to California coast to hills and I mean steep hills through the east side of La Jolla. KC, Jackie Levy and I were driving the pace car - we drove next to her, in front of her and behind her - cheering her on and of course we were there if and when she needed to stop and take a break. Take a moment a look at TJG facebook for all our pics - we had a ball. Again - thanks Lynn Bozof and the National Meningitis Association to allow us to participate in such an amazing event and to once again bring attention to meningitis and to this vaccine preventable disease.
Well now to our next adventure - Jamie will be in Los Angeles with the US Paralympic Cycling Team. Jamie and the team are at track cycling camp at the LA velodrome. If you're not aware of this amazing and I must say scary sport check it out at La Velodrome. When we returned from our Meningitis conference in Paris Jamie was informed that she will be adding this sport on top of her road race cycling. So just another exciting event as Jamie gears up -HA! no pun intended - for the Parapan American Games in Guadalajara Mexico. We will keep you posted
Well, I realize it's been a while since we've posted but needless to say we've been quite busy. Although there is so much so say it will be all in due time. What I will do is start with the CoMO Conference in Paris, France and I will work backwards - one post at a time. So as The JAMIE Group is a member of CoMO and I am the Regional Directors of the Americas we are fortunate to attend this wonderful conference in Paris. For reference my Americas Region include Canada - U.S. - Mexico - Central America - South America - Brazil. It's quite a region but Meningitis is quite an issue all over the world. The conference included CoMO members from around the world - 41 representatives from 23 Meningitis organisation and 17 countries from around the world attended making this the biggest conference yet. The conference is an opportunity to come together to share experiences and ideas, discuss current situation of Meningitis globally and to gain new skills that will help us raise awareness in our own countries.
We learned a lot and met a lot of wonderful people - it was a learned experience. The conference gave Jamie and I a chance to meet meningitis survivor and families who have lost loved ones to this horrible vaccine preventable disease. It was also wonderful to meet Doctors and Scientist who share our hope to protect our loved ones. The 3 day conference gave us an opportunity to understand this disease more and to learn of the issue other countries have. It was very upsetting to know the effects of this disease in other countries. But the conference also ignited another fire inside of us and to understand that there is still so much to do. When you have an opportunity visit the JAMIE Group facebook page to see all the incredible people we met and all the fun time we had.
Speaking of fun times we couldn't be in Paris, France - yes I said PARIS, FRANCE without extending our stay and so we did. And by the way we had our own French speaking Private Tour guide - Roni Schanbaum. And did I mention Roni's roommate Courtney was able to join us. Just before Jamie got sick Roni was a student in Paris and so now was our opportunity to see what that was all about. Well we went and did it all - riding on the Metro was an adventure and of course the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, The Lourve, Sacre-Coeur, The Musee dOrsay, a night ride on the Seine, we saw a show at Moulin Rouge and more and more. Jamie even had an chance to celebrate her 23rd birthday in Paris and of course Roni really got to help her celebrate and to show her the night life of Paris. Yes there are lots and lots of pictures - just none of Moulin Rouge - HA!
Well we made it back safely and believe when I say there is nothing like home - the good old USA!! Jamie of course will agree with that comment. Today as I write this message our bags are packed ready to take us off to another adventure. Wait till you hear this - my beautiful, incredibly awesome Jamie is participating in the Challenged Athletes Foundation - San Diego Triathlon. This will be a relay event and Jamie will be taking care of the cycling part of the relay. Jamie will be riding 44 miles - unbelievable. Unbelievable considering that less than 3 years ago Jamie was stricken with Meningitis and less than 3 years ago Jamie lost both legs (below the knees) and all her fingers were amputated because of this horrible vaccine preventable disease.
This adventure never ceases to amaze me and I hope you will be back on board and stay tuned for the incredible journey we've been on and on the adventure we are yet to tackle. Just a brief summary of what is to come. I will tell you all about the new law - The Jamie Schanbaum - Nicolis Williams Act and all the opportunities we have to spread awareness, to educate, to inform and to advocate. We will also tell you of the Gold Medal Jamie won in cycling during the U.S. National Championship in Augusta, Georgia. This opportunity has lead to the U.S. Paralympics announcing that Jamie is on the roster of 16 cycling athletes (8 men - 8 women) who will compete in the 2011 Parapan Games in Guadalajara, Mexico Nov 12-20. USA - USA!! BUT there is more and more to come.
Thanks to all who have supported Jamie and the Schanbaum Family
Dr. Jennifer Ashton profiles the survival story of one lucky college student who lost her legs and fingers to meningitis, a disease that can be easily prevented with a vaccine.
If at first you succeed to some extent, keep pushing the envelope. Not a quote that can be attributed directly, but these words define the strength, persistence and resolve of former Dallas resident, Jamie Schanbaum.
On Nov. 12, 2008, Schanbaum woke up at a friend’s home, feeling more than not right. “I went home and couldn’t stop feeling cold and nauseous,” said the former Temple Shalom member. “By the time my sister took me to the hospital I couldn’t even stand on my own.” Schanbaum was diagnosed with Meningococcal Septicemia, a diagnosis that would change the course of her life.
Hear from the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) President Bruce Langoulant, medical experts, survivors and parents from around the world who have been touched by meningitis and who express the importance of vaccination.
Among the things 22-year old Jamie Schanbaum could not have anticipated three years ago was standing two inches taller, winning a national Paralympic gold medal in cycling and reveling in the Texas Legislature’s passage of two bills in her honor. Those gains, however, came after significant losses — most noticeably of both legs below the knee and much of each finger, the result of a bout with meningococcal septicemia in her sophomore year at the University of Texas.
Among the things 22-year old Jamie Schanbaum has now that she could not have anticipated three years ago are 2 extra inches in height when she stands, a gold medal from the USA Cycling Paralympic Road National Championships and two bills passed by the Texas Legislature in her honor. These gains came after significant losses — most noticeably both legs below the knee and most of each finger, the result of a bout with meningococcal septicemia during her sophomore year at the University of Texas.
Law Targets Meningitis On College Campuses.
Mother-daughter team, Jamie & Patsy Schanbaum, come by our studios to share their experience with meningitis. Jamie contracted meningitis within a 12 hour period, one day during college. To save her life, doctors acted fast and had to amputate part of her legs and hands.
College freshmen across Texas are preparing to move into dorms over the next couple of weeks. They'll need sheets, towels, laptops and, perhaps most importantly, a meningitis shot. In today's Focus on Health segment, BJ Austin says the shot is required by state law.
There's a new law in Texas that says all college students must get a meningitis vaccine before heading off to school in the fall. Jamie Schanbaum knows exacly how important that is -- she nearly lost her life to the bacterial form of the disease. She stopped by Good Day to tell her story this morning. Read more on myFOXdfw.com: http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/good_day/080311-Ex-Meningitis-Patient-Is-Pro-Vaccine#ixzz1VCQYqc8d
State Sen. Wendy Davis talks about the expansion of a Texas law that now requires all college students to be immunized for meningitis.
