When Ashlee Dahlberg’s 8-year-old son, Liam, came home from school complaining of a simple headache, she had no idea it would be the last evening they’d ever spend together.
By morning, Liam was nearly unresponsive. His family rushed him to the hospital, where doctors uncovered a devastating reality — Liam’s brain and spinal cord were overwhelmed by a rapidly spreading bacterial infection.
The culprit: Haemophilus influenzae, or Hib — a rare but aggressive infection. While Hib often causes mild respiratory symptoms, it can sometimes take a deadly turn, leading to severe complications like meningitis and sepsis.
A Rare and Ruthless Threat
Though Hib is not the flu, despite its misleading name, it can cause severe and life-threatening complications such as meningitis and sepsis. In Liam’s case, the infection had already evolved into deadly meningitis before doctors could intervene.
“At that point in time, that’s when there was nothing they could do,” Ashlee told WHTR. “Anybody that contracts it usually dies within 24 hours.”
Despite being fully vaccinated, Liam is believed to have contracted the illness from an unvaccinated child — a growing concern as vaccination rates continue to drop across the U.S.
A Silent Killer
What began as an ordinary headache spiraled into a medical emergency. An MRI revealed the infection had spread rapidly across Liam’s brain and spinal cord.
“They discovered the amount of bacteria that was covering his brain and his spinal cord,” Ashlee recalled. “That’s when there was nothing they could do.”
Her voice broke as she described those final moments.
“To sit there and listen to the doctor say, ‘You did everything right, but there was just nothing we could do,’ and then to lay there with him as they took him off life support… I could feel his little heartbeat just fade away.”
“I Feel I Have Failed My Child”
Now, consumed by grief but fueled by purpose, Ashlee is speaking out — urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against Hib and other preventable diseases.
“There’s no words that can describe that pain,” she said. “I feel I have failed my child because I could not protect him from everything that would cause harm.”
The Importance of Immunization
Dr. Eric Yancy, a pediatrician, noted that before the Hib vaccine was introduced in 1985, the infection was “absolutely devastating” and claimed the lives of thousands of children each year.
Liam’s heartbreaking story is a powerful reminder: even one unvaccinated child can put others at risk.
“It Was Already Too Late”
“If it didn’t kill the children within a very short period of time, it left many of them with significant complications,” said Dr. Eric Yancy, emphasizing the brutal nature of Hib before the vaccine’s introduction in 1985.
While the Hib vaccine is about 95% effective, it only protects those who receive it — leaving room for the bacteria to spread through unvaccinated individuals. For children like Liam, that risk proved devastating.
Remembering Liam
Liam’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with the staggering medical bills left behind. The fundraiser describes him as “a bright and smart young boy, full of life and potential. His presence brought joy and warmth to everyone he met.”
So far, more than $54,000 has been raised — a testament to the support pouring in from a heartbroken community.
Ashlee has also shared a deeply painful video of Liam in the hospital, moaning in agony as the infection consumed his small body. The footage is haunting — a visual reminder of how fast and vicious this disease can be.
A Mother’s Mission
Through her unimaginable grief, Ashlee is determined to raise awareness about Hib and the importance of vaccination. Her message is clear: no family should ever have to go through this.
“I did everything right,” she said. “But it still wasn’t enough to save him. Please — protect your children. Protect other children.”
“He Touched Everyone Around Him”
“He was kind and sweet,” Liam’s family wrote on his GoFundMe page. “He touched the hearts of everyone around him.”
Their words echo the grief felt by an entire community, mourning the loss of a bright young soul whose life was cut short far too soon.
A Price Too High
While vaccines are widely recognized as one of the most effective tools in public health, access remains unequal — and Hib vaccines, in particular, are costly.
A single Hib shot can cost up to seven times more than the combined vaccines for measles, polio, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. That price tag creates a significant barrier in low-income and developing regions.
Global Vaccination Gaps
The World Health Organization recommends the use of the pentavalent vaccine, which protects against five life-threatening diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Hib. While this combination has helped boost global coverage, disparities still remain:
- 92% of people in developed nations were vaccinated against Hib by 2023
- 94% in Europe
- Only 77% globally
- And just 33% in the Western Pacific region
As vaccination rates fluctuate and misinformation continues to spread, health experts warn that more stories like Liam’s could surface — tragic, preventable losses caused by a silent, fast-moving infection.
A Heartbreaking Reminder of What’s at Stake
As vaccine hesitancy grows and childhood immunization rates decline, Liam’s story stands as a devastating reminder of the real, human cost.
Ashlee Dahlberg’s message is simple — but urgent:
“Please, vaccinate your children. I don’t want any other parent to go through this pain.”