2 I April 22,2010
TEXAS JEWISH POST & SINCE 1947
Schanbaum family at forefront of
meningitis prevention awareness
By Deb Silverthorn
Making the meningitis vaccine
a must is the message of the family
of former Dallasite Jamie Schan-
baum as Saturday, April 24 marks
the second World Meningitis Day,
and Sunday, April 25, the second
Texas Meningitis Awareness Day.
In 2008, when Schanbaum was
a 20-year-old sophomore at UT
Austin, she woke up one morning
feeling achy and worn. "I was freez-
ing and nauseous," she said. "The
pain in my feet soon moved to my
hands and, by the time I got to the
hospital, I couldn't stand." Jamie,
who had not received the Menac-
tra/MCV4 meningitis vaccine, was
diagnosed with meningococcemia,
a deadly infection of the blood.
Jamie survived more than 50
"dives" in a hyperbaric chamber, at
X&tAlbertsons
It means a great dear
least 15 surgeries and skin grafts,
and finally had surgery to am-
putate both of her legs below her
knees and to remove most of her
fingers. Fortunately, parts of both
of her thumbs and two of her fin-
gers remain. "All because I missed
out on the vaccine," she said.
"It is not unusual to go from fine
to dead in 24 hours and in our prac-
tice, the vaccine has never been an
option," said Dr. Jack Seidel, clini-
cal associate professor of pediatrics
at University of Texas Southwest-
ern Medical School, chief of pedi-
atrics at UT Southwestern Univer-
sity Hospitals, director of ped iatric
research at Research Across Amer-
ica, and medical director of pediat-
ric telephone triage at Medical City
Children's Hospital. "We shouldn't
have to have laws for people to just
: e,a s
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do what is recommended! Teens
are at the highest risk and there's
no cause to ignore what can help
our kids avoid this hellacious dis-
ease."
"Meningitis is to be feared and
respected; when parents find out
this disease can kill someone in 24
to 48 hours, they understand the
value of the vaccine and tend to
be very proactive about getting it
done as soon as possible," said Girls
to Women Health and Wellness'
Dr. Susan Sugerman, echoing Dr.
Seidel's conviction. "We include
the vaccine against meningitis as
a routine required immunization,
feeling very strongly that this is a
lifesaving immunization whose
benefits far outweigh any risks.
A bigger concern is immunizing
those older than age 12 who may
have missed the opportunity to
get vaccinated at an earlier time"
[most often because of periodic
shortages of supply of Menactra in
recent years and because recom-
* V
Photo: Submitted by Patsy Schanbaum
Jamie Schanbaum, seated with Gov. Rick Perry, looks on as the governor signs
the Jamie Schanbaum Act. Standing (l-r): Jamie's siblings Roni, Nick and KC;
State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.'s Chief of Staff Louie Sanchez; Jamie's mother Patsy;
and Jamie's grandfather Gene Schanbaum.
mendations have only recently be-
come more strongly enforced].
"This vaccine is a must, not a
maybe," said Jamie's mother Patsy
who, with Jamie's brother Nicho-
las, sisters KC and Roni, friends,
family and even those she's never
met, has made sure her experi-
ence is a lesson for all. Last fall, the
Schanbaum family's efforts, aided
by State Senator Wendy Davis and
State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., paid
off with the passing of Senate Bill
819, named the Jamie Schanbaum
Act. As of Jan. 1 of this year, the new
law requires bacterial meningitis
see MENINGITIS, p.21
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