Eight-year-old Liam Dahlberg from Indiana died just 16 hours after showing symptoms of a rare bacterial infection. What began as a simple headache quickly turned into a medical emergency. By the next morning, doctors diagnosed him with invasive Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), which caused fatal meningitis.
His mother, Ashlee Dahlberg, now speaks out in grief and warning. “This isn’t just a flu—most people die within 24 hours,” she shared. Though Liam was vaccinated, doctors believe he may have caught the infection from an unvaccinated peer.
Ashlee has launched a petition to remove religious exemptions for vaccinations in public schools, calling vaccines a matter of public safety. “Doctors told us once he caught it, his fate was sealed,” she wrote.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $54,000 for funeral costs. Described as a joyful, kind boy who loved basketball and dirt biking, Liam is remembered as a bright light. His story has sparked both sorrow and a movement for stronger immunization laws to protect other children.
