BROCKPORT, N.Y. — A Brockport mother is sharing the heartbreaking story of her 10-year-old son after he died just days after developing flu-like symptoms, hoping other parents will recognize the warning signs of bacterial meningitis before it’s too late.
Stephanie Wheeler said her son, Brian Norsen, came home with a headache in December after visiting a trampoline park and attending a sleepover with a friend. Within a day, his condition had worsened.
“He tried to help everyone, he tried to help me all the time, he loved his Bills, he loved soccer,” Wheeler said of her son.
As Brian’s symptoms progressed, he developed a fever and severely swollen tonsils.
“He had a fever, his tonsils were so swollen,” Wheeler recalled.
She took Brian to an urgent care clinic, where he underwent COVID-19, flu and strep testing.
“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,” Wheeler said.
The following afternoon, Brian tested positive for influenza A.
Wheeler continued caring for him at home by encouraging fluids and giving him fever-reducing medication. Later that evening, she asked him to move from the couch to his bed.
“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,” she said.
A few minutes later, when Wheeler went to kiss him goodnight, she found Brian 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,” Wheeler recalled through tears.
Brian’s older brother immediately began CPR, but Brian could not be saved.
“I lost my baby, he went to heaven,” Wheeler said.
Two days after Brian’s death, Wheeler received the results from pathology that revealed he had been fighting more than 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,” Wheeler said. “I wish that I had a clue that meningitis was a thing, like I never even, when do you hear about meningitis?”
After researching the illness, Wheeler realized Brian had experienced one of the key symptoms of meningitis before he died.
“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 said.
According to the Monroe County Health Department, Brian’s death was initially recorded as a pediatric flu death. Health officials later learned he also had bacterial meningitis but said the specific strain did not require a public exposure notification.
Wheeler said she decided to share Brian’s story so other families know what symptoms to watch for and what questions to ask when a child becomes seriously ill.
“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,” she said.
Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening infection that causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Even with treatment, the illness can be deadly and often requires immediate intravenous antibiotics.
Common symptoms include:
- High fever
- Severe headache
- Stiff neck
- Sensitivity to light
- Confusion
- Sleepiness
- Vomiting
Vaccines are available to protect against certain strains of bacterial meningitis, but they are generally recommended beginning at ages 11 or 12. Brian was 10 years old when he died.
For more information about bacterial meningitis: Click Here
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