Daughter's death starts mother on long journey

On July 6, 2003, nine hours after first displaying symptoms, Harmony Caliman, age 19, daughter, sister, and mother of one, died of meningococcal disease.

Young and full of hope, Harmony had been working in a nursing home and preparing to enter a nursing program.

"She woke up that morning in good spirits," Harmony's mom Jan Caliman said. "She went to work at 6 a.m. Halfway through her shift she had a headache and a fever. Within the hour, her supervisor sent her to the emergency department. Harmony was diagnosed with the flu, given morphine for her headache and then released because her headache had improved."

The hospital contacted Jan.

"When I saw her," Jan said, "I knew something was really wrong. She was really sick."

Jan was told at the hospital that her daughter was "good to go" and then advised her to take Harmony to the doctor the next day if she got worse.

With her intuition screaming otherwise and a daughter who was developing purple spots and barely able to stand or talk, Jan soon returned to the hospital with Harmony.

"I took her into the emergency room where her heart stopped as a complication of her illness," Jan said. "Within minutes, I was told she had meningococcal disease and that they were doing everything they could to revive her.

"She was pronounced dead at that time," Jan continued, "nine hours from her first known symptom."

"When you lose a child," Jan said, "your life changes. I had to define my life differently."

In 2005, Jan was seeing someone new. One day he left a bicycle on her porch with a note that read, "Get a life."

"At the time, I wasn't much fun to be around," Jan said, "but I wanted to value my purpose and I wanted to have time to do it."

Angry, Jan got on that bicycle and started pedaling despite never having learned to ride. That first day on the bike she passed a sign that read "Harmony Falls" and another that said "Harmony Park."

"Harmony is here," Jan thought, "and she's saying 'Pedal, Mom! Pedal!'"

Jan got on that bike a second day and passed the "Harmony Produce Stand." It was enough. She was hooked.

After a while, she pinned Harmony's picture on her back. She started telling people about meningitis, though she didn't know much about it, only that it had taken her daughter from her.

The years passed as she racked up thousands of miles. She had special jerseys printed up that read, "This ride is for Harmony" or "Vaccinate against meningitis."

"I don't know how many miles I've ridden," Jan said. "I do know I've ridden a 500 mile ride in Oregon six times and a 300 mile ride called the Courage Classic in Washington seven times. I also did a 300 mile ride in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. That was really special."

On the tenth anniversary of Harmony's death, Jan decided she was better. She decided to stop some of her yearly rituals. She got on the computer and found the National Meningitis Association and sent a message. In the middle of the night, there was a response and in the morning, she received a call from a woman in Mount Vernon.

The next weekend she met the woman, who told her she should be a representative for NMA, an NMA MOM.

"MOMs are women who have lost children or have children who have survived with significant and catastrophic injuries," Jan said.

In October, she traveled to Georgia for training.

"The training was very cool," Jan said. "I learned the facts and figures, I learned about prevention. Each of us does a public service announcement."

She talked about other MOMs and some of the survivors. One survivor is a 28 year-old registered nurse who had been feeling bad during one of her shifts. She went home to sleep it off and woke up knowing it was something worse than she had imagined. She was unable to stand or breath or get to the telephone to ask for help. She survived, but she lost her nose and had four amputations.

"The blood pools and dies," Jan said. "The doctors have to remove skin and survivors are left with a lot of scarring. This woman is incredible."

NMA is impressed with the way Jan is getting the word out about meningitis and they are encouraging her to continue.

"Cycling is a real community," she said. "People always ask why you ride or wonder how long you've been riding."

Jan hopes to have a booth and an opportunity to speak on stage next year during one of the events. This winter, she will take an advantage of a trip to Hawaii to speak to the health department on the big island about meningitis and vaccination.

"There is a completely safe vaccination for meningitis that covers four strains," Jan said. "And just two weeks ago, a vaccination for the fifth strain was approved in this country."

The CDC recommends that parents have their children vaccinated when they are 11-12 and get a booster shot at 16-17 years of age, according to Jan. The booster shot should carry the child through their college years, when they are most susceptible.

"It's not like cancer or heart disease where you have a chance to fight," Jan said, thinking of Harmony, who only had nine hours. "Meningococcal disease? You don't have a chance to fight. The best prevention is vaccination."

There are many states that mandate vaccination, but in Washington state, they only mandate education. Parents simply receive a letter advising them to vaccinate their child.

Some states don't have a mandate at all. Oregon is one of those states and NMA is hoping Jan will turn some of her focus there.

She already has.

If you would like to know more about the National Meningitis Association, go to http://www.nmaus.org.