Measles vaccination – LT

After reading the article about measles (LT, February 24), I just want to tell you what can happen to someone who gets seriously ill with measles.

I had measles when I was in first grade. At that time, my little sister and I stayed with my grandmother and grandfather.

My mom and dad moved with the rest of the family to another county to start a farm. I was finishing first grade and my little sister, who was 1.5 years old, needed more supervision than the family could provide at the time.

My memories of the illness were that my little sister became very ill. She was vomiting a lot and had a high fever. She probably had meningitis. She was having difficulty staying still and lying in bed. Later, while growing up, she developed a speech problem with all its consequences. There were no schools or help to get her, so she lived a difficult life and had mental problems as a teenager until now. She now lives in an apartment with caregivers around her around the clock, unable to cope with her daily care.

My mother fought hard and long for her. She has difficulty expressing herself and doesn't understand everything. Her goal was to get a driver's license and get married. Something she could never do.

No one knows in advance who will bear the consequences. This is why I believe you should vaccinate yourself against measles, because life can take a different turn for those infected.

the elder sister