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When 8-year-old Liam Dahlberg came home from school with what seemed like a simple headache, his mother, Ashlee, thought it was nothing more than a passing bug. But by morning, everything changed.
Liam was barely conscious. Panicked and desperate, his family rushed him to the hospital—only to be met with devastating news. Doctors discovered that Liam’s brain and spinal cord were overwhelmed by an aggressive bacterial infection.
The culprit: Haemophilus influenzae type b, or Hib—a rare but dangerous illness that can cause respiratory issues but also lead to life-threatening complications like meningitis and sepsis.
What began as a normal school day ended in unimaginable tragedy. Now, Ashlee and her family are left mourning the sudden and heartbreaking loss of a vibrant young boy whose life was cut far too short.
Within hours, the infection had developed into deadly meningitis.
“At that point in time, that’s when there was nothing they could do,” Ashlee told WTHR. “Anybody that contracts it usually dies within 24 hours.”
Though Liam was fully vaccinated, doctors suspect he may have caught the infection from an unvaccinated child—something experts are seeing more of as vaccination rates decline across the country.
A Silent, Fast-Moving Killer
Despite its name, Hib is not the flu. It’s a rare but dangerous bacterial infection that can cause upper respiratory illness but can also quickly advance into severe complications like meningitis and sepsis—especially in children.
In Liam’s case, it moved with terrifying speed. An MRI revealed the devastating truth: the bacteria had already spread throughout his brain and spinal cord. The infection had become unstoppable.
“That’s when there was nothing they could do,” Ashlee said through tears. “I would never wish this kind of pain on my worst enemy.”
“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.”
A Mother’s Plea
Now, Ashlee is determined to turn her grief into action—by urging other parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated against Hib and similar 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.”
According to pediatrician Dr. Eric Yancy, Hib was once “absolutely devastating” before the vaccine became available in 1985. And with rising vaccine hesitancy across the country, heartbreaking stories like Liam’s are becoming more common—and more preventable.
“If it didn’t kill the children within a very short period of time, it left many of them with significant complications.”
Today, the Hib vaccine is about 95% effective—but only for those who receive it. Unvaccinated individuals remain vulnerable and can unknowingly spread this dangerous bacteria to others.
Remembering Liam
The Dahlberg family’s GoFundMe page paints a vivid picture of the boy they lost too soon. Liam is remembered as a “bright and smart young boy, full of life and potential. His presence brought joy and warmth to everyone he met.”
With over $54,000 raised so far, the fundraiser is helping the family cover the overwhelming medical bills and funeral costs following their devastating loss.
Ashlee also shared a heartbreaking video of Liam in the hospital—his small body wracked by pain, the infection relentlessly taking its toll.
“He Was Kind and Sweet”
The Dahlberg family remembers Liam as a boy who “touched the hearts of everyone around him.” His kindness and warmth left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
The High Cost of Protection
While Hib vaccines provide vital protection, they come with a significant price. Compared to vaccines for measles, polio, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis combined, the Hib vaccine is about seven times more expensive—making it a costly but crucial defense against this deadly infection.
Global Vaccination Rates and Challenges
The World Health Organization recommends the pentavalent vaccine, which offers combined protection against five serious diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Hib. Yet, vaccination rates for Hib still vary dramatically worldwide.
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By 2023, approximately 92% of people in developed countries were vaccinated against Hib.
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In Europe, the rate was slightly higher at 94%.
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Globally, about 77% received the vaccine.
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However, in the Western Pacific region, only 33% were vaccinated.
Cost remains one of the biggest barriers to widespread Hib vaccination, especially in lower-income regions—making stories like Liam’s a painful reminder of why vaccine access is so critical.
As vaccine hesitancy grows and childhood immunization rates decline, Liam’s story stands as a heartbreaking reminder of the real and devastating consequences.
Ashlee Dahlberg’s message is clear—and urgent:
“Please, vaccinate your children. I don’t want any other parent to go through this pain.”
