Ashlee Dahlberg’s 8-year-old son, Liam, seemed fine when he came home from school with a simple headache. But by the next morning, he was barely responsive. Panicked, the family rushed Liam to the hospital, where doctors found a devastating infection had covered his brain and spinal cord. He was suffering from Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), a rare but aggressive bacteria that can cause severe illnesses like meningitis.
Despite being vaccinated, Liam’s infection progressed quickly into deadly meningitis, leaving doctors powerless. Ashlee recalls hearing the heartbreaking news that there was nothing more they could do. She shared the pain of watching her son taken off life support as his heartbeat faded away.
Liam’s case highlights the dangers of this silent, fast-moving disease. Experts say that Hib can spread from unvaccinated children and that declining vaccination rates make outbreaks more likely. Ashlee urges all parents to vaccinate their children to prevent similar tragedies.
