Advocate Profile, Jan Connon

Jan Connon’s 18-year-old son, Jered, died in November 2002, from a deadly bacterial infection called meningococcal disease. Jered, a freshman in college, was visiting home for the weekend when he began experiencing flu-like symptoms and developed a purple rash that quickly spread across his body. As Jered’s condition continued to decline, he was rushed to the hospital where he was diagnosed with meningococcal disease. Sadly, Jered passed away only 27 hours after exhibiting his first symptoms. Unaware that adolescents and young adults are at increased risk for the disease, it wasn’t until after Jered’s death that Jan learned there was a vaccine available that could have potentially saved her son’s life.