Gracie Wood

Mrs. Jackie Burr Instructor

English 2020, Section 2

04 March 2019

Pats Life:

College, the time of your life. The place were mistake are made, test are given, and

parties are thrown every night. This is exactly what the students of Towson University in

Maryland lived by. The night life was everything. The passing of many tests was a must and,

there was no time to be sick let alone let some disease form around this little college town. On

March 5, 2000 the Towson University mind was forever changed after learning the outcome of a

student attending that same college. Joseph Patrick Kepferle, aka Pat, this kid was the life of the

party. He was well known around campus. His spirits brought happiness and laughter wherever

he was. You couldn't help but love being around this kid. His presence was something you would

crave. That would soon be gone to the campus of Towson University.

On March 3, 2000 Pat attend a college basketball game and then heading to a party after

the game. During this time no one knew that in less than 48 hours their whole life would be

turned upside down. Early sunday morning Pats life took a turn for the worst as he started the

battle to fight for his life against this horrible disease called meningitis. This is when

i​nflammation of the meninges is caused by viral or bacterial infection. As this disease was taking

over his body and spreading through him like butter on a pancakes. He was not himself. Pat was

dying and he was dying fast. Three hours after being taken to the emergency room he ​lost the

battle to meningitis. Pat was one of a kind people would say. He had something special about
him that everyone was drawn to. As the college was notified that this disease had taken the life

of one of their students, many started to panic that this disease could soon be a part of them or

their friends life. Many students filled the health center to get a antibiotic pill to kill the virus that

may have been in contact with them.

As the community came together to support Pat and his family. They remember him as a

friendly young man who enjoyed making people laugh. “ He was always composing freestyle

rap” said some of his closest friends. Pats smile lit every room he entered. His mother said that

“He was a natural actor and comedianóintelligent, witty, daring, and restless.” He was the type of

person that would challenge you to push yourself and become the better you. Pat left us with the

knowledge of how important it is to live the life you want. If you don't like how your living, you

change it and make it what you want. He is missed dearly but he will never be forgotten. He was

a light to all and he made a difference. His traumatic experience helped thousand finally decide

to get their own vaccines because they don't want to have to go through that or watch those they

love go through it.

A scholarship was established in Pats honor and many other, that were all affected from

this disease. This scholarship is used to show awareness to meningitis and the how vaccines are

important for everyone to get. This story of Pat is an example to all of those parents who are

against vaccines, it shows the importance of just a single vaccine. This shows how the impact of

vaccines save lives. It affect everyone around you. That small decision can actually be one of the

biggest decision of your life. Having vaccines can make or break your life. If you are willing to

have that much risk with not having your vaccinations done then good luck. But those of you

who have brains would not take that risks especially for a child. In memory of Pat, the college
offers many ways to get vaccinations for free. All of those people who were affected by Pats

disease that costed him his life, strive to make a difference because of this. His family is able to

connect to those people who may have any concerns with the way vaccine are used or what is in

them.

Pat has changed thousand of people live because of the traumatic experience that he had

to go through. It’s hard on his family knowing that they could have saved their son from this by a

simple vaccine. They try and find the positive outlook from this experience and trial they went

through. They choose to focus on the lives that Pat can save because of his own mistake of not

being vaccinated. His mother left us with these words “Pats laughter is gone, but his presence is

all around us. He and all the other victims compel me to write again and again that vaccination

and education are the best protection against this killer”.