By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – A Tucson mother is speaking out about meningococcal meningitis ahead of the new school year, more than two decades after losing her teenage son to the disease.
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Leslie Maier’s son Chris was a 17-year-old senior at Sabino High School when he died in 2005. He had just helped his team win the state soccer championship.
“My son Chris was a senior at Sabino High School, he was 17 and he kicked the winning goal for Sabino to become the state soccer champions,” Maier said.
From championship to crisis
Two weeks after the win, Chris was having his state championship pictures taken when he started to feel sick. He was sent home from practice with a high fever, a pounding headache and chills. Through the night he tried warm baths to stop the chills but ended up vomiting. The plan was to take him to the doctor the following morning.
“His dad went to check on him, and found him laying on his bed and Chris’ last words were, ‘Dad, I can’t feel my feet,’” Maier said. “He was rushed to the hospital where a spinal tap revealed he had meningococcal meningitis. He died less than 24 hours later.”
How the disease spreads
Dr. Megan Carlson, health services director for Indianapolis Public Schools, said meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial illness spread through saliva.
“It lives in the nose and the throat, so think about sneezing, coughing, sharing utensils, vapes, being in close proximity — that’s how this illness spreads,” Carlson said.
Because of how quickly the disease can spread, players from Sabino High School and the Phoenix team they played had to quarantine and stay out of school following Chris’ death.
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Carlson said the disease can be difficult to identify early.
“It can resemble the flu, which is why it’s so scary,” Carlson said. “The other issue is from onset to outcomes is so quick. One in 10 who develop meningitis will die. It can happen within 24 hours. One in five who survive will suffer from long-term complications such as loss of limbs, hearing loss, brain damage.”
A push for vaccination
Maier said she launched an awareness campaign following her son’s death focused on the importance of vaccination.
“The vaccine came out right after Chris had died and Arizona was the first state to mandate the meningococcal meningitis vaccine for 11 and 12 year olds entering sixth grade because of Chris’ death,” Maier said.
Health experts are urging parents to consult their doctors about the vaccine before the school year begins.
“Sit down with your healthcare provider, ask those questions, get information from a verified source and talk through and decide what’s best for you and your family,” Carlson said.
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