Family, Community Hold Vigil For Boy Who Died Of Meningitis
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Community members gathered for a vigil Saturday evening to remember a 6-year-old North Side boy who passed away suddenly earlier this week from meningitis.
Until just a couple of days ago, Jaimere Goodman's mother had no idea what meningitis was or that it would take her son's life.
"He said he was tired. He wanted to go lay down, and when I went to check on my son, he was gone," Tara Cabbagestalk, Jaimere's mother, said. "He was gone."
A candlelight vigil and balloon launch was held to remember Jaimere in his Northview Heights neighborhood Saturday evening.
Very few of us can understand the pain of losing a child.
"I just miss him saying mommy," Cabbagestalk said. "I wish I could have my son back. I'll do anything to have my son back."
The Allegheny County Health Department has reassured the public that there's little risk of being infected. The meningitis that took Jaimere's life is not contagious.
But the pain for his family won't go away.
"My family's here to help me pull through, and everybody's been such a big help," said Cabbagestalk.
The family is in the process of setting up a fund at a local bank to help pay for Jaimere's burial.
Meanwhile, the Allegheny County Health Department said Saturday that they received culture results this weekend that confirm "the bacteria is definitely not meningococcus." They say "no further public health action is anticipated."
RELATED LINKS:
Medical Examiner: North Side Boy Dies From Bacterial Meningitis (3/6/14)
More Reports by Paul Martino
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