Published: December 28, 2007 10:15 am            

15-year-old cheerleader loses life to meningitis

ATHENS, Ala. — “The sun isn’t shining today because our sunshine, Jess, isn’t here,” Susan Clayton said of her niece, Jessica Elkins, who died of meningitis late Wednesday at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.

Family and friends of the Athens High School, Ala., cheerleader were in shock Thursday after learning of 15-year-old Jessica’s death.

The ninth-grade student, junior varsity cheerleader and daughter of Talbot and Michelle Elkins of Athens died the day after Christmas after falling ill Friday after school. Clayton said the teen succumbed to bacterial meningitis and pneumonia.

“She was a high-quality person and a great kid,” said Athens High School Principal Chris Bolen. “It is a great loss for Athens High School.”

Bolen said Elkins was in school Friday during semester exams.

“She had gotten sick Friday afternoon and everything went down hill from that point on,” Bolen said. “She was a great kid with a positive attitude. She had lots of friends. If I had to write a description for a student, she would be the one I would describe.”

Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and the spinal cord.

It often goes undiagnosed because its symptoms can be similar to those of common flu. Bacterial meningitis can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.



Flu symptoms

"She came home from school Friday and was aching all over,” Clayton said. “She had a bad headache and she said her hand and hip were hurting. She also had a fever.”

Jessica’s Decatur pediatrician began treating her for flu Friday night, but when her condition continued to worsen Saturday her parents took her to the Decatur General Hospital emergency room, where her doctor diagnosed meningitis, Clayton said. She was flown by medical helicopter to Children’s Hospital.

Her condition seemed to stabilize and she talked with family members through Sunday but she then contracted pneumonia. By Christmas night her condition had deteriorated and she died about 9 p.m. Wednesday with family at her side, Clayton said.



Prayer vigil

"They had a prayer vigil going on at First Baptist Church and there were so many people they had to wind up bringing in more chairs,” Clayton said. “There were probably 200 people at the hospital last night (Wednesday) who stood for hours and hours because there was no place to sit down. She was loved by so many young girls and boys.”

Kim Bailey, Jessica’s cheerleading coach, said the squad was heartbroken over the news. Her older sister, Emilee Elkins, is a varsity cheerleader.

“She was a leader even though she was only in the ninth-grade,” Bailey said. “She always wanted her stunt group to get the hardest stunts. There will be a hole in our hearts forever. She was vivacious, fun and a strong leader of the squad.”

Bailey said the last time the cheerleaders were all together was a holiday party Dec. 16.

“We were laughing, playing games and exchanging presents, and the next time we saw each other it was down there at the hospital with Jessica,” Bailey said.



Sonny Turner and Karen Middleton write for The News Courier in Athens, Ala.

        

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