Whooping cough is on the rise – here’s one mom’s story
Whooping cough is currently surging across the U.S. According to the CDC, whooping cough cases in 2024 are five times greater than in 2023 in the U.S.
Whooping cough is a very contagious respiratory disease caused by bacteria. Although it often starts off mild, its cold-like symptoms can quickly develop into coughing fits that affect breathing. Whooping cough is particularly dangerous for babies, even if they are otherwise healthy. This disease can spread easily, but is preventable through vaccines.
Kathryn, one of VYF’s SQUAD™️ advocates, shares her story about losing her newborn son, Brady, to the disease.
What happened to your son, Brady?
Brady was born on November 20, weighing a healthy 8 pounds, 6 ounces. In early January, we started to notice he wasn’t quite himself. His symptoms looked like a cold, but when his fever spiked to 104, we rushed him to the ER. They ran many tests but ultimately sent us home to monitor him.
Unfortunately, things quickly worsened, and we found ourselves at Boston’s Children’s Hospital. Brady was in critical condition; his heart stopped, and they had to perform chest compressions. He was put on a heart and lung bypass machine, and doctors warned us about the possibility of brain injury.
We prayed he would recover and be a healthy boy again, but tragically, Brady passed away the next day, just shy of two months old.
Do you know how/why he got whooping cough?
We did everything we thought was right. We made sure friends and family washed their hands and used hand sanitizer before holding him, but we didn’t realize that those steps wouldn’t be enough to protect him from whooping cough. Anyone who wasn’t vaccinated, even if they didn’t seem sick, could have unknowingly spread the disease to Brady.
Why have you decided to be an advocate with Vaccinate Your Family? Why are vaccines so important?
After losing Brady, we knew we had to do something to honor his memory and help prevent other families from going through the same tragedy. We always said that if sharing Brady’s story could save even one life, it would bring a sense of purpose and positivity to our loss.
Vaccines are so important because they protect the most vulnerable, like newborns who are too young to be fully vaccinated. We became advocates with Vaccinate Your Family to raise awareness about the importance of vaccination and to encourage people to protect not only themselves but also those who can’t protect themselves. It has also provided me with a way to grieve while connecting with other families and creating lifelong bonds. We will continue to share his story and keep raising awareness.
What is your reaction to the news that cases of whooping cough are rising in the U.S.?
It’s heartbreaking and frustrating to hear that whooping cough cases are rising, especially because this is a vaccine-preventable disease. No family should have to endure the loss of a child from something that could be prevented. The increase in cases reminds us how vital it is for people to stay up to date on their vaccinations, not just for their own health but to protect those who are too young or medically unable to get vaccinated.
What would you say to people who are hesitant about vaccines and might be reading this article?
I understand that people have concerns, but I would ask them to consider the potential consequences of not vaccinating. Our son Brady’s story proves how devastating those consequences can be. We started a page called “Brady’s Cause,” asking people to pledge to get vaccinated. It’s a small gesture, but it could save a young life. Make sure to thoroughly research vaccine-preventable diseases and vaccines, ensuring that all information comes from credible and trustworthy sources—this is essential.
Vaccines are safe, effective, and they’re the best way to protect our loved ones and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases. It’s a choice that makes a real difference.
Additional Resources
Kathryn was recently featured in Newsweek, where she shared Brady’s story to encourage people to get vaccinated. Read the article here.
VYF provides up-to-date information on vaccine safety and access on our website. View our current programs to learn more about our services and ways to get involved.
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