Cavan Franklin
Ten months after Cavan was born, his parents learned that he had Meningococcal Meningitis, a potentially fatal disease that affects the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Since then, painful skin grafts, surgeries, bleeding, scarring and the ravages of infection have all but monopolized his life.Yet what people remember about Cavan is his grit, huge heart and joy. He loves music, from country to rap, and playing with his siblings and dog, Chevy.
“Cavan has maintained such a happy demeanor through all of his pain and suffering. He loves everyone – and offers hugs and kisses all the time. No matter what, he stays strong. We love him so much,” says his mom, Brandi. Heroes are those who conquer all odds and survive, and his family feels blessed to have this brave young hero in their midst.
(http://www.childrenscancerassociation.org/2006-hero-kids/)
the following are actual pictures of Cavan in the hospital with the purple rash:
Health Officials Try To Ease Concern Of Meningococcal Disease
PORTLAND, ORE. - State health officials say there is no indication of a large outbreak of meningococcal disease, despite the recent death of a McMinnville teenager and the hospitalization of four children in Portland. Dr. Paul Cieslak, communicable disease manager with the Oregon Department of Human Services, said the bacterial illness made 56 people sick in 2005, killing three of them. In 2004, four of the 61 people who caught the disease died.
The illness, which can prove fatal in a matter of hours, killed Drew Ottley, 18, last week. It has also sickened two other McMinnville residents, an infant and a man in his 40s.
Those three cases and an infant from Hillsboro were found to be connected. Cieslak declined to say how the illness might have spread among the four, citing confidentiality. Family members, however, say the two infants - Keenan Tommila and Cavan Franklin - are cousins. The disease is not easily transmitted but can be passed by coughing or kissing.
So far, Portland hospitals are treating at least four children for the disease. Tommila is in fair condition at Doernbecher Children's Hospital.
The others are in Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital: Franklin is in serious condition; Mikila Solberg, 8, of Vernonia is in fair condition; and Gabriel L'Aime, 6 months, of Kalama, Wash., is in serious condition.
The disease is caused by a bacterium that Cieslak says lives harmlessly in the noses and throats of 5 percent to 11 percent of the population. No one knows why the organism suddenly attacks the body.
Symptoms of meningococcal disease include a high fever with a headache, a stiff neck and a purplish blotchy rash. In 1994, after the arrival of a new strain of the bacterium, Oregon experienced a "hyper-epidemic" of the disease, with cases soaring to 143. Since then, the number of cases has dropped to slightly higher than the national average.
(http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4174061.html?tab=video)
The illness, which can prove fatal in a matter of hours, killed Drew Ottley, 18, last week. It has also sickened two other McMinnville residents, an infant and a man in his 40s.
Those three cases and an infant from Hillsboro were found to be connected. Cieslak declined to say how the illness might have spread among the four, citing confidentiality. Family members, however, say the two infants - Keenan Tommila and Cavan Franklin - are cousins. The disease is not easily transmitted but can be passed by coughing or kissing.
So far, Portland hospitals are treating at least four children for the disease. Tommila is in fair condition at Doernbecher Children's Hospital.
The others are in Legacy Emanuel Children's Hospital: Franklin is in serious condition; Mikila Solberg, 8, of Vernonia is in fair condition; and Gabriel L'Aime, 6 months, of Kalama, Wash., is in serious condition.
The disease is caused by a bacterium that Cieslak says lives harmlessly in the noses and throats of 5 percent to 11 percent of the population. No one knows why the organism suddenly attacks the body.
Symptoms of meningococcal disease include a high fever with a headache, a stiff neck and a purplish blotchy rash. In 1994, after the arrival of a new strain of the bacterium, Oregon experienced a "hyper-epidemic" of the disease, with cases soaring to 143. Since then, the number of cases has dropped to slightly higher than the national average.
(http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4174061.html?tab=video)
Meningococcal disease strikes sixth victim
- By Brian Barker
and KATU.com Web Staff
PORTLAND, Ore. - Another person has fallen victim to meningococcal disease, this time a 6-month-old boy who is being treated at Legacy Emanuel Hospital.
The infant is the sixth case in our area and while having half a dozen cases within a year in Oregon is quite common, the concern is whether we are seeing an upward trend.
Meningococcal disease can start out much like a simple case of the flu, but can spread quickly through the body and cause a purple rash.
If not treated quickly enough, victims can lose their limbs to amputation or even die.
What is especially unusual this year is that the cases of meningococcal disease are happening within just a matter of days of one another and are also happening in a relatively small area.
Three of the victims are relatives and another, who died, was linked to them. However, it is unclear how the two other victims ended up contracting the disease.
Recent Meningococcal Cases
Meningococcal disease is so serious because it is often misdiagnosed as the flu and people lose valuable time getting medical help.
Early symptoms include sudden fever, headache and a stiff neck. Nausea, vomiting and seizures often accompany those symptoms.
After the disease has taken hold, a red or purple rash can appear. Once that rash appears, or the symptoms are unusually sudden or severe, you should see a doctor right away.
Meningococcal disease usually occurs in late winter and early spring.
Good hygiene, such as hand washing and not sharing drinking glasses or eating utensils can help prevent the spread of the disease.
(http://www.katu.com/news/3647301.html?tab=video)
Cavan and his Brother Nolan after his recovery from the Menengicoccal