Classmates pray for teen who has rabies

Students at St. Mary's Springs High School wants Jeanna Giese to know they haven't given up on her recovery. Advertisement

Her classmates in Fond du Lac continue to send letters, make ribbons and posters, and offer prayers in her name.

Giese, 15, was diagnosed with rabies on Oct. 19. Few people survive after developing symptoms of the illness.

She remains hospitalized, surrounded by her parents and other family members who read letters to her daily. Her parents have declined to release information on their daughter's condition.

"She is still living and she's continuing to fight this illness," said Robb Jensen, principal and chief executive officer of the Catholic school.

"Are we still concerned that God may call her any day - yes," he said. "But we also know that if God calls, it's for a reason, and we also know that she'll be at eternal peace."

The Fond du Lac County teenager is the second person in four years to contract rabies in Wisconsin. She reported being bitten by a bat at church in September after picking it up by its wings, and indicated that the wound had been thoroughly washed after the incident. She did not receive medical treatment after the bite.

On Oct. 15, Giese was hospitalized at St. Agnes Hospital, complaining of classic symptoms associated with the illness. She's since been transferred to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa.

"She's the kindest, gentlest individual," said Father Patrick Heppe, one of the pastors of Holy Family Parish. "She loves people and she loves animals."

Holy Family Parish consists of six churches, including St. Patrick's Church, where the incident occurred.

Heppe said Giese and her family are actively involved in the religious education program at St. Patrick's and that the parish has taken this opportunity to educate children about the dangers involved in handling unfamiliar animals.

"She saw a bat and she went to help it," he said. "That's how she is . . . she and her family are God's real people."

Diane Cappozzo, health officer for the Fond du Lac County Health Department, said so far about 10 close contacts of Giese have been found who may have had a significant exposure and have been asked to contact their primary care providers to receive a rabies vaccine.

"We can't force it because it's a recommendation, but we do believe people are following through," she said.

Although theoretically possible, person-to-person transmission of rabies has never been documented, though rare transmission has happened during transplants, said Jim Kazmierczak, state public health veterinarian.

On Wednesday, students at St. Mary's Springs gathered in the library and were informed of Giese's diagnosis.

"Some went back to class, some made posters of well wishes and sent words of encouragement, and others needed time to go to the chapel to pray," Jensen said.

Counseling was available for those who needed it, but many of the school's 224 students focused on how to help, Jensen said.

On Thursday, they had Jeans Day, a special day where students get a chance to wear jeans instead of uniforms and contribute to a cause.

"I can't remember if it was during her freshman or sophomore year, but (Jeanna) was asked 'If you had more time, what would you do,' " Jensen recalled. "You know what she said: 'I would spend more time helping people.' "

"She's just very helpful, very caring," he said. "And that's what's causing us to call upon our faith right now."

A fund has been established for Jeanna Giese at American Bank, 676 W. Johnson St., Fond du Lac, WI 54935.

This is truly sad. We need to pray for her and her family.

Once rabies causes actual symptoms, it is already too late. There is nothing, outside of God, that can stop it at this time.

The rabies vaccine is given soon after initial infection so that the body can build resistance to the real virus before it finishes traveling up the nerves (it takes weeks to months for the journey).

Why wasn't the bat quarantined and tested? Why wasn't she given the series of injections?

Previous article said nothing was done after she was bit. Apparently the bite mark didn't even appear to break skin, so she just washed it off and didn't tell anyone.

Sad. Kids need to be taught to never touch stray animals.

4 posted on 10/23/2004 1:30:28 AM PDT by ambrose (http://www.swiftvets.com)

Prayers for this young lady.

5 posted on 10/23/2004 1:44:40 AM PDT by Blogger (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1249663/posts)

wow. a wound that wasn't even bad enough for her to even mention it at the time.

6 posted on 10/23/2004 1:58:50 AM PDT by GeronL (FREE KERRY'S SCARY bumper sticker .......... http://www.kerrysscary.com/bumper_sticker.php)

Prayers said. Gosh, I did not know this about rabies.

Thank goodness she attends a Catholic school. If this were happening in a government school, the fascists at the ACLU would be having an apoplexy.

In fact, they probably are anyway.

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