Family and friends of Jessica Elkins recently joined Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks and county commission chairman Collin Daly to remember her and acknowledge that Saturday, Sept. 23, is Meningitis Awareness Day in Limestone County. Saturday is also Jessica’s birthday; she would have been 31 years old.

Jessica was a freshman and a cheerleader at Athens High School. At 15 years old, she passed away from bacterial meningitis. Loved ones continue to honor her passion of caring for others through raising awareness of the disease and through academic scholarships.

On Dec.21, 2007, Jessica was excited to be finishing up school work and begin the Christmas holiday break. She went to school that morning to take her final exam when she began feeling ill.

“She had flu like symptoms and I carried her to the doctor. They actually swabbed her and it came back positive for the flu. After that, that is what she was being treated for and the next day she was still very sick. We noticed little bruising on her which turned out to be a petechiae rash – where the bloodstream shut down. We got her immediately to the doctor and they diagnosed her as 99 percent sure bacterial meningitis,” Jessica’s mom, Michelle Elkins, said.

Jessica was taken to a hospital in Decatur and then transferred to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham. During the next few days, her symptoms would improve and then worsen. Her symptoms included headache, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and body aches. Jessica first complained to her parents about discomfort in her legs and hips. At the hospital, she was put on a ventilator for pneumonia and her kidneys began failing. She began to have many strokes that eventually led her brain cells to show no activity.

“It took over her body, and she passed away on Dec. 26, 2007. We did everything we could do during that time. We started antibiotics immediately, but when God wants you, it’s your time. I have had a hard time and it took me a long time to get where I know she is in a much better place. I know that was God’s plan for her,” Michelle said.

A vaccine and boosters are available for meningitis and many colleges are requiring the vaccines. According to the Centers for Disease Control, meningitis is a contagious disease spread through saliva and respiratory droplets. The CDC recommends the first vaccine (MenACWY) between 11-12 years of age and a second dose at 16, when teens are most at risk.

In 2014, the State of Alabama passed the Jessica Elkins Act which states that local board of educations providing information on immunizations, infectious diseases, medications, or other school issues to parents in grades 6-12, then certain information regarding the meningococcal meningitis disease and its vaccine shall also be provided.

Those who survive meningitis can still face many long term affects. “A lot of people lose their hearing, their sight or their limbs. They lose body function, such as kidney disease. It pretty much takes over your body if it doesn’t take your life,” Michelle said. “We fight and battle, this is so important. This can happen to anyone at any time. We never expected to lose our baby. She was healthy. It hit her suddenly.”

To help the Elkins raise awareness, donations can be made and additional information can be found at the National Meningitis Association website. A scholarship in Jessica’s memory was also established and donations can be made toward the scholarship.

Donations to the Jessica Elkins memorial Scholarship can be made at:

Limestone Area Community Foundation

Jessica Elkins Fund

419 S. Marion St.

Athens, AL. 35611