Shara Ludlum: Start vaccinating

Shara Ludlum

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Steamboat Springs — “Mom, I think I’m going to die.” They’re words no mother should ever have to hear. But my 10-year-old son Tyler said just that as he fought for his life in June 2008. He was battling meningococcal meningitis, a rare but serious illness that potentially can cause death or disability in just a single day.

Tyler began running a high fever one morning, so I took him to the doctor and later to the emergency room. Diagnosed with a virus each time, Tyler was sent home to rest. The next day, I rushed my son to the hospital, where he developed a purplish rash on his feet, a classic symptom of meningococcal disease.

Luckily, Tyler survived, but doctors had to amputate his feet and some of the fingers on his right hand in order to save his life. Don’t think this can’t happen to you. I never would have imagined something like this would happen to my family.

It wasn’t until after Tyler got sick that I learned a vaccine is available for children Tyler’s age to help prevent meningitis. My son lost his feet and fingers to a disease I knew nothing about. Every parent should talk to their child’s health care provider about vaccination to potentially prevent this nightmare. After Tyler’s illness, I made sure to have my younger child vaccinated as well.

Despite his ordeal, Tyler remains an active 13-year-old who loves sports.

Shara Ludlum

Steamboat Springs

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Comments

sashas 1 year, 6 months ago

I'm sorry that happened to your son, Shara; however, I could never be a vaccine proponent. My aunt miscarried hours after receiving a flu vaccine. If you choose to be a supporter or an opponent of vaccines, risks can occur, for sure. However, my belief after many testimonies and tons of research has driven me to NEVER touch a vaccine. The risks of obtaining a vaccine far outweigh the risks of denying a vaccine.

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HowardRoark 1 year, 6 months ago

This is a sad story, however at the end of the day the vaccine agenda is all about profits. Let me let you in on a little secret; tha vaccine industry does not care about you or your son's health, but your money. 75% of all meningitis infections are catagorized as strain B, and the vaccine does not protect against strain B. What strain did your son have? Here is a very informative video that explains the meningitis vaccine and the corruption involved within the CDC and big pharma. I would encourage anyone that is pressed with taking any medications via fear tacticts to really do some research before coming to an informed decision; making a choice out of fear without looking into the complications, risks and benefits is not prudent. Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DfLNK...

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Steven Ross 1 year, 6 months ago 

 What a gracious and lovely sentiment in Mrs. Ludlum's letter to the editor. It is so refreshing to hear from a remarkable woman and mother ,who first hand witnessed the ravages of a vaccine preventable disease.
 The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's web site has a host of similar parents whose children were infected by vaccine preventable diseases, and on The Children's Hospital of Colorado web site our own fearless Governor took the step of describing his family's ordeal with infant B.pertussis.
 It is heartbreaking to read howard's and sasha's letters. One hopes that their parents get a refund on the money spent on their respective educations. Everyone knows that vaccines were the cause of the Greek Debt Crisis and Kim Kardashian.
 Medical scholars have identified vaccines as the greatest breakthrough in modern medicine. The Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Harvard web sites, and the University of Colorado all vigorously encourage and support vaccinations of adults and children. Last month the Children's Hospital of Colorado tooted their own horn about all the physicians getting a flu vaccine. Warren Buffett gave Bill & Melinda Gates 35 Billion dollars for vaccines for children in the 3rd World.
  If it is any comfort to the wingnuts of Yampa Valley, most if not all of the physicians lose money by providing vaccines.

 Mrs. Ludlum is a magnificient parent for writing such a compelling and caring letter. Yampa Valley could use more of such thoughtful and educated parents.

             Steve Ross, MD, FAAP
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HowardRoark 1 year, 6 months ago

Dr. Ross. It is interesting that you would reply to my comment and refer to me as a wing nut with a poor education when that is exactly as I see you. Autism has gone from 1 in 500,000 children 1989 to 1 in 66 today, and people like you scream to the top of your lungs that vaccines are not the cause, hence why us uneducated morons out here do not trust you anymore. Asthma, diabeties, allergies and GI problems in our children have risen over 300% since 1989 as well. What are you doing about it good doctor? Do you have any idea why this is all happening, or are you still reading fraudulent tabacco science in your prestigious medical journals written by a cornacopia of people that stand to profit from the vaccines they promote? The CDC, WHO and Merck is a revolving door. The CDC director from 2002 to 2009 was hired right after leaving the CDC by Merck to head their 5 billion dollar a year vaccine campaign, and she is making a killing. See any conflicts of interest? Or how about Dr. Paul Offit from your prestigious medical school in Philly? He is promoting a vaccine on the schedule that he holds the patent to and stands to earn millions of dollars; no conflict of interest there, huh? I notice that you do not address the fact that over 75% of meningitis infections are casued by strain B, but that the vaccine dos not protect against strain B. The flu vaccine does not protect against the flu, and that is admitted by the very people that make the vaccine. Perhaps you should read the inserts of what you are injecting into your patients, but I guess you are too busy with all the sick people out there that you are treating (and making top dollar for treating). It would be nice if you could tell us little people the causes for the increases of all of these problems, but I guess you are too busy treating the symptom to care about the cause, which is why I have little faith in your medical opinions.

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