On the morning on Wednesday October 13, 2010 Sarah and Mike Bernier woke up unaware of the nightmare they were about to endure with their 6 month old daughter, Sophie. Sophie began to show signs of a fever and raspy breathing. As the day went by Sarah noticed major changes in her and rushed her back to the Cold Lake Health Care Centre for a second time. Sophie’s condition began to deteriorate very
quickly despite the efforts of the medical staff on hand. Shortly after midnight on Thursday October 14, 2010, Sophie lost a fast and devastating battle to Meningococcal Septicaemia. With only a 1 in 100,000 chance of the infection turning to the meningococcal septicaemia, most doctors and nurses do not test for it or know the signs. It carries a 75% mortality rate in infants under the age of two within a few hours of initial onset. It is the goal of the Bernier family to carry on and go forward to try to make a difference in another family’s life. There is currently no vaccination for this strain of meningitis in North America. Canada does offer an optional vaccination for the A, C, Y and W135 strains (Menactra) but it is not covered by our medical coverage, takes a month to order and costs approximately $120 per vaccination. We need the support of our community, neighbours and friends to try to change this. Your support is vital in order to allow the hearbreaking loss of Sophie Bernier act as a way to make a change and perhaps prevent this nightmare from happening to another family. To raise awareness to our community and to raise funds for Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada, The Sophie Bernier Silent Auction & Dance will be held on May 28, 2011 at the Lakeland Inn in Cold Lake.
