Student finds calling after losing fingers, legs - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

College students have a lot on their minds: making good grades, getting into grad school, and landing the perfect job.  They're not thinking about getting sick. One University of Texas student is hoping college-bound teens will hear her story, and protect themselves from a disease that nearly killed her.

Meningococcal septicemia is more rare, and more serious than viral meningitis. It strikes about 4,000 Americans every year.  It can hit suddenly, and become serious quickly. Four years ago, Jamie Schanbaum learned that the hard way.
 
Schanbaum, 24, is a student at the University of Texas at Austin, a gold medal cyclist, and a meningitis survivor. In 2008, she was a sophomore in college when her life took a nasty turn. Doing laundry one night she felt the flu coming on, and within hours Jamie went from bad to worse. Her neck became stiff and her skinned burned.
 
"You also have these blotches that show up, so that's something I had as a symptom the night before I was admitted in the hospital," said Schanbaum.

She would remain there for seven months after doctors discovered she had meningococcal septicemia. The death rate is 40 percent.

"I lost all my fingers and my legs below the knees," said Schanbaum.

And while undergoing a year of intense rehabilitation, she says he found her mission.

 "I definitely don't want anyone to go through that," said Schanbaum.

Jamie and her family spearheaded an effort to require all Texas students living in college dorms to have a meningitis vaccination. Doctor Brian Metzger, an infectious disease expert who treated Jamie, says it's a step in the right direction.

"It does carry a 10 to 15 percent mortality rate," said Metzger.

Metzger says the risk of contracting the disease is higher for college students living in close quarters.

Jamie is now just three semesters away from graduation. She hopes to be a counselor, and what a few years ago seemed impossible is now a way of life.

"I didn't think I'd ever do it, let alone want to do it. And someone gave me the idea, like planted the seed if you will," said Schanbaum.

Georgia colleges and high schools are required to inform students about meningitis. The advisory committee on immunization practices, which recommends vaccine schedules to the CDC, says all college freshman living in dorms should get the meningitis vaccine. If it's been several years since you had the shot, you may need a booster for full protection.