Just five days after celebrating his 1st birthday March 8 with cake and presents, Kentin M.
Davis died of acute meningitis. “His mother went to wake him up for his 1-year checkup, and he was completely lifeless,” said Kristi L. Biccum, Kentin’s godmother. “He ended up trying to fight for four days, and died March 13.” Kentin had received a vaccine that protects against certain types of meningitis, but he was still too young to receive the more powerful meningitis vaccine, Menactra, which is restricted to people age 11 to 55. Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person’s spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The common symptoms of vomiting and a stiff neck weren’t noticed by Kentin’s parents, Molly DeJourdan and Michael Davis, Watertown. No one knew how sick Kentin really was. Mrs. Biccum said the night before he went to Samaritan Medical Center, Kentin had a fever, but infant Tylenol brought it down. Since the boy’s death, Mrs. Biccum and Ms. DeJourdan have hosted several benefits to raise funds to donate to the National Meningitis Association, a nonprofit charity that raises awareness of meningococcal disease.
From 2 to 9 p.m. today, the two women will host a portrait benefit at the Carthage American Legion, 415 West St., Carthage. Olan Mills Portrait Studio will provide a photo package of one 8-by-10, two 5-by-7s and eight wallet-sized pictures. The event costs $10. Proceeds will go to the National Meningitis Association and will be used to help raise local awareness of the disease.