BROCKPORT, N.Y. — A Brockport fifth grader died three days after coming home from a sleepover with a headache and now his mom is determined to help others avoid a similar tragedy.
Stephanie Wheeler, the mother of 10-year-old Brian Norsen, sat down with News10NBC Investigative Reporter Jennifer Lewke to share his story in the hopes that it will help other families.
“He tried to help everyone, he tried to help me all the time, he loved his Bills, he loved soccer,” says Stephanie Wheeler of her son.
Back in December, Brian came home with a headache after a visit to a trampoline park and a sleepover with a friend. By the next day, his condition had worsened. “He had a fever, his tonsils were so swollen,” Stephanie recalls.
She took him to urgent care, “they did a COVID test, flu test, strep test, the rapid strep came back negative so, they gave him a steroid to reduce the inflammation in his tonsils and sent us home,” Stephanie says.
The next afternoon, Brian’s flu test came back positive for flu A.
Stephanie kept a close eye on him, pushing fluids and fever-reducing medicine. That night, she suggested Brian sleep in his bed instead of the couch. “He got up and he kind of fell against the wall, he just couldn’t balance himself so, his older brother came and picked him up and put him into bed,” Stephanie says.
When she went into his room to kiss Brian goodnight a few minutes later, she found him unresponsive.
“Connor lifted him up a little because he was going to try to see if he could get him to breathe and blood just started pouring out of his nose and mouth,” Stephanie recalls through tears. His older brother started CPR, but it was too late. “I lost my baby, he went to heaven,” Stephanie says.
The hospital confirmed Brian’s body wasn’t just fighting the flu. “I got the call actually from pathology, I think it was Thursday (two days after his death) that he had bacterial meningitis and that he also had strep and the flu,” Stephanie says, “I wish that I had a clue that meningitis was a thing, like I never even, when do you hear about meningitis?”
Stephanie has done a lot of research since and there was one thing that Brian mentioned early on the day of his death that she didn’t know was a warning sign of meningitis. “He did complain of his neck hurting but this was earlier in the afternoon before I got the tests back and I just thought it was from his swollen tonsils because no one gave me any warning signs of anything to look for…I could have tried to get him to the hospital, I could have tried to save him but instead I sat here for two days and watched my son die without knowing,” she says.
Leaders at the Monroe County Health Department tell News10NBC they initially recorded Brian’s passing as a pediatric flu death. They were notified about the meningitis but say the particular strain Brian had does not require public exposure notification.
For Stephanie, sharing the story publicly has a purpose. She’s hoping other parents can avoid her pain and know all the questions to ask and all the signs and symptoms to look for when their child is sick.
“I’m thankful I got the 10 years I did with Brian; I’ll keep every memory but I’m going to do what I have to, to voice for him and fight for him because it’s just not fair, he should be here,” Stephanie says.
Bacterial meningitis is life-threatening even when treated. It causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord and often requires immediate intravenous antibiotics. The symptoms are high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, confusion, sleepiness, and vomiting.
There are vaccines for protection against certain strains of bacterial meningitis, but they normally are given starting at age 11 or 12, Brian was 10.
For more information about bacterial meningitis: Click Here
Brockport 10-year-old had bacterial meningitis, flu and strep when he died after being sent home from Urgent Care WHEC.com.
Hence then, the article about brockport 10 year old had bacterial meningitis flu and strep when he died after being sent home from urgent care was published today ( ) and is available on News10NBC ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Brockport 10-year-old had bacterial meningitis, flu and strep when he died after being sent home from Urgent Care )
Also on site :
- Yungblud Receives Support From SZA, Alyssa Milano, More After Opening Up About ‘Industry Plant’ Discourse
- Portugal vs Spain LIVE: FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16
- Why Adam Sandler Headed to a Nantucket Basketball Court After Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s Wedding