I am happy to see Shel speak out on this disease. It is preventable. Believe me, there is nothing worse in this world than having to sit by your child's bedside anguishing whether or not you brought him to the doctor early enough. The symptoms were so much like a bad cold or flu. At that time, I had never even heard of meningitis. I thank God every day for the miracle of modern medicine. Sheldon was 13 months old. Immunize your child.