Voices of Meningitis, a public health initiative of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) in collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur, announced today the launch of Get in the Game: Keeping Teens Healthy, a new program to help educate parents on the danger and prevention of meningococcal disease.
The National Meningitis Association gala (NMA) Give Kids a Shot, held recently at the New York Athletic Club, attracted people from all over the nation and from all walks of life - just as meningitis affects people from all walks of life. This fifth annual event was once again both an emotion-filled evening and a stellar success in aiding the fight against meningitis, a potentially vaccine-preventable disease.
Jamie Schanbaum speaks to students at Atrisco Heritage Academy about losing her fingers and legs after contracting meningitis. She encourages students to get vaccinated against the infectious disease. (Adria Malcolm/for the Journal)
In honor of today, World Meningitis Day, and tomorrow, Texas Meningitis Awareness Day, The Immunization Partnership is honored to welcome guest blogger Patsy Schanbaum.
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.
A simple vaccination could have saved Dallas native Jamie Schanbaum all the pain and suffering of meningitis. That is the message she brought to LCPS Health Services Department staff Aug. 24 during a presentation with her mother, Patsy Schanbaum, in the administration building. "I want to be the drop into the water that causes the ripple," said Schanbaum.
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.
Read MoreWatch 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.
An educational video produced by Texas Children's Hospital.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2-U1S74OH0
This educational and compelling video conveys the importance of young people receiving the meningococcal meningitis vaccine before going to college.
Read MoreOn 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
Save your life; get vaccinated for meningitis.
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.
