Advocate Profile, Denise Copp

Denise Copp’s son Trevor was a freshman at Georgia Tech University, who was living at home, when meningococcal disease took his life. Trevor wasn’t feeling well one morning, but Denise assumed he was exhausted from his fraternity initiation. However, when he began vomiting, and complained of chills and sensitivity to light, Denise took him to the emergency room. Hours later, doctors noticed a purple rash and suspected meningococcal disease. They began treating him with antibiotics, but it was too late. Trevor died 15 hours after his symptoms started.

“If I knew then what I do now about meningococcal disease and how deadly it can be, I would have had Trevor vaccinated,” said Denise. “As a parent, you do everything you can to protect your children.”