|
|
Amanda Kanowitz - influenza |
|
The parents of Amanda Kanowitz recount the devastating loss of their young daughter to influenza. |
|
>> read Amanda's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colin Durkin - whooping cough |
|
Pamela and Kevin Durkin write about the tragic death of their infant, Colin, to whooping cough (pertussis). |
|
>> read Colin's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colin Enderlein - whooping cough |
|
Mary-Clayton Enderlein recounts the suffering of her newborn son Colin endured during his life-and-death struggle with whooping cough (pertussis). |
|
>> read Colin's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eileen Ouellette - measles |
|
In this personal account, Dr. Ouellette vividly describes her own experience with measles infection in 1937. As an eight-year-old girl, she suffered for days with an extremely high fever from measles. |
|
>> read Eileen's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elizabeth Cover - influenza |
|
In December 2003, Colorado experienced its worst influenza epidemic in years. Among the influenza-related fatalities that month was Elizabeth Terese Cover, who died from complications of influenza weeks before her second birthday. |
|
>> read Elizabeth's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Emily Lastinger - influenza |
|
The parents of Emily Lastinger recount the devastating loss of their young daughter to influenza. |
|
>> read Emily's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frankie - Polio |
|
Polio survivor recalls tragic loss of twin brother and classmates to the disease |
|
>> read Frankie's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Helena Harding - Hib |
|
Two months after 18-month-old Helena Harding was hospitalized with Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), her parents publicized her ordeal with the hope of educating others about the disease and of encouraging parents to have their children immunized. Prior to her illness, her parents had no knowledge of Hib and the vaccine that prevents it. |
|
>> read Helena's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jacob Newby - pneumococcal |
|
This article was written by Carla Newby, who lost her six-year-old son to pneumococcal meningitis. |
|
>> read Jacob's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Kiely - measles |
|
The author relates his personal experience with measles and reminds us that vigilance in maintaining high levels of vaccination coverage is necessary to prevent measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases from making a comeback. |
|
>> read John's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Katie Bellovich - influenza |
|
The story of Katie Bellovich, courtesy of Families Fighting Flu |
|
>> read Kate's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leo Wexler-Mann - pneumococcal |
|
A three-year-old underwent two days of emergency room visits and a four-day hospital stay being treated for pneumococcal pneumonia, sepsis, and pleural effusions |
|
>> read Leo's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lois - diphtheria |
|
A public health nurse discusses the death of her young cousin from diphtheria in 1961, and the subsequent serious illness she and family members experienced. |
|
>> read Lois's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mary Catherine - Hib |
|
A couple with serious concerns about the safety and morality of vaccination delay immunizing their infant daughter. While they research their questions, their daughter is hospitalized with Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). |
|
>> read Mary's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matthys Family - rotavirus |
|
Brooke Matthys describes the painful realization that if only she had taken the time to get her children vaccinated against rotavirus, this ordeal for her family could have been prevented. |
|
>> read the Matthys family's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nelyn Baker - whooping cough |
|
Lynne Baker suspects she contracted whooping cough from a coughing customer in a bookstore about two weeks before giving birth to her son Nelyn. |
|
>> read Nelyn's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nick Morris - whooping cough |
|
Thomas Morris's describes the hospitalization of his preschool son, Nick, with whooping cough (pertussis). |
|
>> read Nick's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Olivia Dahl - measles |
|
In 1962, Roald Dahl (author of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and other beloved books for children and young adults) suffered a heartbreaking loss: the death of his 7-year-old daughter Olivia from the complications of measles encephalitis. |
|
>> read Olivia's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peete Family - rotavirus |
|
Actress Holly Robinson Peete describes her experience as the mother of a toddler with rotavirus infection. While on a family vacation, Holly's son became extremely ill with profuse vomiting and dehydration. |
|
>> read the Peete family's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PKIDs - hepatitis B |
|
Physician underscores the importance of hepatitis B vaccination at birth in this testimony presented before the U.S. House of Representatives. Dr Zandt, a member of the organization PKIDs (Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases), represented his family and all of the families at PKIDs whose children have been affected by vaccine-preventable diseases. |
|
>> read PKIDs's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ramona & June - whooping cough |
|
Ramona, a grandmother, describes her family's experience when her 6-month-old granddaughter contracted pertussis from her. |
|
>> read Ramona's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sarah Archer - Hib |
|
A busy mother procrastinates about getting her daughter's Hib vaccination. She describes the anguish of watching her 2-year-old's near-fatal illness. |
|
>> read Sarah's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Serena King - whooping cough |
|
On April 30, baby Serena Gabrielle King, only 27 days old, succumbed to whooping cough in Austin, Texas. |
|
>> read Serena's story |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sharon Karber - polio |
|
Sharon Karber, a nurse working in public health, recalls the paralysis she suffered from polio at age three years in 1953. She describes her experience with this crippling vaccine-preventable disease and her subsequent struggles with and success at rehabilitation. |
|
>> read Sharon's story |
|
Disclaimer: The Immunization
Action Coalition (IAC) publishes
personal testimonies for the purpose
of making them available for our
readers' review.
Please note that information in the
testimonies may be outdated and may
not reflect the current immunization
schedule or recommendations. |
|