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Illness quickly overwhelms student
By TIMES STAFF
Published September 25, 2007
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Delta Gamma sorority members mourn at a memorial service held at the Martin Luther King Plaza on campus for USF student Rachel Futterman, 19, who died Monday of bacterial meningitis.
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[Brian Cassella | Times]
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Thursday: Rachel Futterman works a midday shift at Gators Dockside, a restaurant near the University of South Florida, then hangs out at her sorority house. That night, she attends a campuswide sorority dinner with her sisters from Delta Gamma.
Late Thursday/early Friday: Futterman complains she feels slightly nauseated and calls her symptoms a stomach bug.
Friday: Futterman still feels nauseated, spends the day in bed, watches television, sleeps and is tended to by her sorority sisters. She complains of a headache and flu-like symptoms.
Saturday: About 7 a.m., Futterman's roommate, sophomore Amber Powers, is awakened when Futterman begins kicking during what friends describe as a seizure. Powers calls 911, and Futterman is admitted to University Community Hospital.
At first, friends are under the impression from officials that Futterman has viral meningitis, a serious but more treatable condition.
That afternoon, Futterman is described as possibly having bacterial meningitis.
Sunday: By noon, Futterman is declared brain-dead.
Monday: Futterman dies. University officials hold a memorial service on campus.
Sources: Delta Gamma sorority, Gators Dockside, University of South Florida
[Last modified September 25, 2007, 00:18:36]
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by Dee
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09/26/07 06:48 AM
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Mike and Mary did you go to med school ?sometimes god makes his calling and we can do nothing about it .I as a parent would have made sure my child got the best care and I am sure the Futtermans did to .So leave this family alone with your gossip
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by joe
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09/25/07 10:25 AM
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Bacterial meningitis can kill like this. The most important thing is getting to medical care as soon as any symptoms appear. Earlier tests could have saved her. Moral to the story? Go to the Doc. It may be serious but only he can tell.
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by Mike
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09/25/07 10:18 AM
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Something about this story just does not add up. A complete investigation needs to be done with regards to her health at the time she got sick and of the hospital's treatment to get to the bottom of it.
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by Mary
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09/25/07 08:28 AM
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The hospital could have done more to save this girl. I've never heard of anyone losing their life in 2 days. I bet if they look into it ... the hopital was negligent!!
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Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
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