The Indiana youngster tragically died within hours of contracting the rare infection
A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded when an eight-year-old boy lost his life just hours after catching a rare infection, his devastated mom revealed.
Liam Dahlberg, a young boy from Indiana, reportedly died due to a bacterial infection that quickly progressed into deadly meningitis. The infection took hold and became fatal within the span of a single day.
The only symptom Liam showed was a headache. He had come home from school one afternoon in April and told his mom he wasn’t feeling well. No one could have guessed how serious it was.
By the next day, Liam’s condition had rapidly worsened. His family rushed him to the hospital when they noticed he was barely responsive. Once there, doctors discovered the infection had already spread to his brain and spinal cord.
"At that point in time, that's when there was there was nothing they could do." his grieving mom, Ashlee Dahlberg, shared during an interview with 13WMAZ.
"Anybody that contracts it usually dies within 24 hours."
Now, Ashlee is speaking out in hopes of raising awareness about how aggressive and deadly the illness can be. She’s urging parents everywhere to make sure their children are vaccinated. Doctors suspect Liam may have contracted the infection from another child at school who wasn’t vaccinated.
Liam was diagnosed with haemophilus influenzae, also known as H. flu or 'Hib'. Ashlee stressed this is not the same thing as the seasonal flu that most people are familiar with.
Hib is a type of bacteria—not a virus and bacterial infections like this one can be far more dangerous, even deadly if not caught quickly.
The Cleveland Clinic warns that Hib can become an invasive infection. In mild cases, it might cause something like bronchitis. But when it becomes more severe, it can lead to life-threatening conditions like septic arthritis, sepsis, or meningitis—which is what tragically happened to Liam.
Speaking with reporters, Ashlee opened up about the crushing pain she felt when doctors told her Liam was brain dead. There was nothing more they could do, and his life support would have to be removed.
"I would never wish this kind of pain on my worst enemy ever." she said. "To have sat there and listened 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. And I could feel his little heartbeat just fade away."
"There's no words that can describe that pain." she continued. "I feel I have failed my child because I could not protect him from everything that would cause harm."
The family says they still don’t know how Liam—who was fully vaccinated against Hib ended up getting infected. Pediatrician Dr. Eric Yancy pointed out that fewer children are getting vaccinated nowadays, which might be part of the problem.
Dr. Yancy explained that the disease used to be incredibly destructive before a vaccine became available. The vaccine was first introduced in 1985 and has helped save many lives since then.
"If it didn't kill the children within a very short period of time, it left many of them with significant complications." he added.
Babies are typically given three doses of the Hib vaccine, and it's about 95% effective at preventing the infection.
According to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), before this vaccine existed, thousands of children in the U.S. would get sick from Hib each year. Many were left with severe, life-changing conditions like deafness, blindness, paralysis, or cognitive impairments. For some, it became fatal.
The infection usually spreads through respiratory droplets, which makes it easy to catch especially in school settings.
A fundraiser set up in Liam’s memory described him as a kind-hearted, gentle boy who brought happiness to everyone he met.
The GoFundMe campaign has raised $54,537 at the time of writing. The money is intended to help cover the medical expenses that piled up as the family dealt with the sudden and devastating loss of their son.
The campaign shares: "Liam was a bright and smart young boy, full of life and potential. His presence brought joy and warmth to everyone he met."
Anyone wishing to support the family during this difficult time can donate to the fundraiser.