"I gradually learned that I had been battling meningitis and sepsis ... the teen underwent multiple surgeries, including the amputation of several fingers and the removal of dying skin.

This could lead to tissue death and require the amputation of one or more limbs. Other potential complications of meningitis may include: While meningococcal bacteria can be spread through saliva ...

Meningitis is a leading infectious cause of death in infants ... medical care and can leave survivors with severe disabling after-effects including amputation, skin scarring and neurological defects.