Advocate Profile, Cindy Lapel

Cindy Lapel was planning to get her 18-year-old son, Andy, and his twin sister, Angela, immunized in August before they left for college. Unfortunately, she was not aware that young adults are at increased risk for contracting this terrible disease, even before college. In May 2003, Andy, a high school senior, began feeling ill while pitching a baseball game. When his symptoms began to progress, Cindy brought him to the hospital where doctors realized Andy had meningococcal disease. As a result of the disease, Andy sustained organ damage and underwent amputation of some fingers and toes.