By SAMANTHA SARACINO
6 News Reporter
ROCKWOOD (WATE) - A rare type of meningitis recently took the life of a 12-year-old girl in Roane County.
Morgan Peters died in early May after she was diagnosed with bacterial spinal meningitis.
"She was free spirited, loving, loved God. She had a good heart," said Morgan's mother, Amanda Peters.
"She was always happy. I told her she never learned to walk. She skipped everywhere she went," said her father, Andy Peters.
Her parents say Morgan's illness came on suddenly.
"She was just walking around, playing, reading, being Morgan. On Sunday, we thought she had the flu or a stomach bug, the next day a little bit sicker. Then Tuesday, she was on a ventilator," her mother explained.
By Wednesday, an EEG showed there was no brain function, leaving the Peters with an extremely difficult decision.
"It was the hardest thing ever. I can't imagine anybody having to do that. It was the hardest thing we've ever had to do," they said.
Doctors couldn't figure out why a healthy 12 year old would get the disease. That made it hard for her family to understand. "It was really hard, and I would never wish this upon anybody," said Morgan's older sister, Emily Peters.
Since Morgan's death, the response from the community has been overwhelming. There's a Team Morgan Facebook page full of support, T-shirts and bracelets.
"For a community to really come together and show so much love, it's amazing," her mother said.
A benefit event will be held for the Peters family called Cuts and Cupcakes for Morgan. It's on Saturday, June 2 from 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at the parking lot by Precision Cuts and the Career Center in Rockwood. All proceeds will benefit the family.
Donations can also be made at Y-12 Federal Credit Union under the Morgan Peters Memorial Fund.
Morgan Peters (source: family)
