Ambiguously Blind
Meningitis Episodes
Meningitis Stories and Advocacy with Patti and Alicia
March 28, 2023

Meningitis Stories and Advocacy with Patti and Alicia

Patti Wukovits and Alicia Stillman, two mothers who each lost their young, healthy daughters too soon to a now vaccine-preventable disease, Meningitis B (known as MenB). High school senior Kimberly (Patti’s daughter), 17, died one week before her gra...

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Meningitis Stories with Painter Sam
Feb. 7, 2023

Meningitis Stories with Painter Sam

Fellow survivor, Samantha Bennett, stops by to share her meningitis experience that begins as a 10-month-old baby and how the fast action of her family and an ER doctor helped her beat the odds. She recalls the countless months spent …

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Chef Regina, Your Friend In The Kitchen
Nov. 15, 2022

Chef Regina, Your Friend In The Kitchen

While on a family road trip, Regina Mitchell noticed a pain in her eye that changed from slight to excruciating within a few days. After a long medical journey she was diagnosed with Bilateral Panuveitis and began losing her sight …

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Meningitis Stories with Andy Marso
Oct. 5, 2022

Meningitis Stories with Andy Marso

As a senior at the University of Kansas, Andy Marso was not aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis. Because of the fast action of his friend and local doctors Andy miraculously survived to tell the tale in his …

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Meningitis Stories with Krystle
July 26, 2022

Meningitis Stories with Krystle

Fellow bacterial meningitis survivor, Krystle Beauchamp, stops by to share her meningitis story and how thankful she is for a quick diagnosis and the support of her family and friends. As Advocates for the National Meningitis Association (NMA), Krystle a...

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Jamie Schanbaum
April 27, 2021

Jamie Schanbaum

Fellow survivor, Jamie Schanbaum, stops by to share her meningitis story and talk about life as an amputee, the vaccine legislation she helped pass, her advocacy with the J.A.M.I.E. Group and her days as a cyclist on the United States …

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The Meningitis Experience
Feb. 23, 2021

The Meningitis Experience

Fellow survivor, National Meningitis Association Advocate and podcast host, Adam Busuttil, stops by to share his meningitis story and the similarities with John’s story. They also discuss their road back to college and the importance of mental health che...

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Q&A Four
Jan. 26, 2021

Q&A Four

Erin returns with more listener questions. John discusses what he misses the most after vision loss, how technology helps with independence and if his other senses have become heightened to adapt to the loss of vision. In addition, they cover …

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Advocacy in Action
Jan. 12, 2021

Advocacy in Action

Fellow bacterial meningitis survivor Francesca Testa stops by for a visit to share her harrowing experience with the disease more than 15 years ago. As two former athletes, John and Francesca discuss the challenges they each faced in regaining their …

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Moms and Meningitis
Dec. 15, 2020

Moms and Meningitis

National Meningitis Association President Leslie Maier joins John and Erin to discuss the organization and how she channeled her grief into advocacy and action after she lost her son to meningitis. Leslie shares Chris’ story, explains how she first got …

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Q&A Three
Dec. 1, 2020

Q&A Three

Erin returns with more listener questions. John discusses his rehabilitation, motivation to return to college life and working through setbacks. Erin and John also share advise they would give their younger selves and their engagement story...

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Meningitis 101
Nov. 17, 2020

Meningitis 101

Dr. Todd Wolynn, CEO of Kids Plus Pediatrics in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, works to educate about immunizations, infectious disease and primary care. He stops by to discuss the symptoms of bacterial meningitis, the potential long-term effects, and the vacc...

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Meningitis Stories With Blake
Oct. 27, 2020

Meningitis Stories With Blake

Blake Schuchardt is a fellow meningococcal meningitis survivor, advocate for the National Meningitis Association and the cover story for People Magazine’s Summer 2020 Health edition. John and Blake each share their story of the extremely critical meningi...

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