A meningitis survivor finds a new purpose

The J.A.M.I.E. Group was first discussed while Jamie was still in the hospital. Our family had just experienced the nightmare of meningococcal disease firsthand, and we kept coming back to one question: How did we not know this could happen?

Jamie contracted meningococcal disease caused by serogroup C. A vaccine existed that could have helped prevent what our family was going through, yet we did not understand the risk or the importance of prevention. As we watched Jamie fight for her life and experienced the devastating impact meningitis had not only on her, but on her family and friends, we knew we could not stay silent.

We did not want another person or family to learn about meningitis the way we did.

That is why Jamie and her mother, Patsy, created The J.A.M.I.E. Group. What began with one family's experience has grown into a shared commitment to meningitis prevention through education and advocacy. Together, Jamie and Patsy continue to lead the organization with an ambitious goal: to help end meningitis and ensure more people understand that prevention is possible.