Meningitis in your words

Amelia Vitiello's story

  • Date of illness: 19 Oct 2007
  • Location: Italy
  • Categories: Bacterial meningitis
  • Age: Toddler 1-3
  • Relationship: My Child
  • Outcome: Bereavement
Amelia Vitiello

My name is Amelia Vitiello, and I am the President of the National Committee Against Meningitis – Liberi dalla Meningite.

My life was forever changed on 19th October 2007, when my little daughter Alessia, only eighteen months old, died from fulminant meningitis caused by meningococcus B. At that time, no vaccine existed to protect her. She had been vaccinated against other strains, but not against the one that struck her so suddenly.

From that unimaginable pain, my husband Alessandro and I created the association Alessia and Her Angels to support children and raise awareness of meningitis. In 2011, together with other parents who had lived the same tragedy, I founded the National Committee Against Meningitis.

Today, my mission is to turn grief into action. We give a voice to families, promote prevention and vaccination, and work with schools, institutions, and public figures. Through authentic stories and innovative campaigns, we have transformed our loss into a movement of hope, protection, and life.

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