NAU Student Dies From Rare Bacterial Infection, Family Says

Loved ones are grieving the tragic loss of a young woman who died this week from a rare bacterial infection while attending college in Arizona. Lianne Dennstedt had graduated from high school in Southern California in 2016 and was working on a major of Environmental Science at Northern Arizona University when she contracted a fatal form of meningitis. She was only 19.

"Last night, we experienced what no parent should have to endure," her parents said in a joint statement shared with Patch on Tuesday.

"Our precious daughter, Lianne, lost her battle with a rare and aggressive bacterial infection that caused meningitis and other complications. Our family is devastated by the loss of our vibrant, loving Lianne, who had a tender soul and brought so much joy and laughter to the world."

Lianne's roots in Southern California ran deep. She graduated from Murrieta Valley High School in 2016, where she ran cross country, winning many awards and honors in the process. Her mother, Brenda Dennstedt, is vice president of the Western Municipal Water District board of directors in Riverside and father, Shawn Dennstedt, is a 24-year veteran of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, according to a family spokesperson.

"Lianne fought for her life during two weeks in intensive care, with a team of specialists doing everything they could," her parents said. "Despite every conceivable effort and prayer to keep her with us, Lianne passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side. While we cannot begin to describe the unimaginable sorrow of losing a child, we take comfort knowing Lianne is with the angels in Heaven now."

According to family, once the 19-year-old became sick, her condition worsened quite rapidly. Within the course of less than a week, she went from having just a sore throat to having the full-blown deadly infection.

"Lianne was beginning her sophomore year when she became ill with a severe sore throat," the family's statement indicated. "A week later, she was admitted to the hospital with meningitis, double pneumonia and renal failure caused by fusobacterium necrophorum."

It all started on Aug. 26 with the throat issue, according to a YouCaring page that has been set up to help her family in this terrible time. Here's the timeline of what is believed to have happened to the young woman:

Over the following days, her sore throat became so infected that the infection traveled through the tissues of her throat into her jugular veins. Blood clots developed in her jugular veins and became infected as well.

Simultaneously, the infection traveled backward through the tissues of her neck into her spinal column where her spinal fluid became infected. The infected spinal fluid is what caused the brain to become infected and swell (meningitis).

At some point, the blood clot in her right jugular broke up and all the tiny infected blood clots made their way into her lungs causing the pneumonia.

All this happened over the course of about five days. It was very fast moving and acting. Lianne's condition was caused by a bacteria, but it was not from an outside source, the bacteria came from inside her own body.

No one is to blame. People get sick. Even in the good ole United States of America, good people get sick.

"Lianne’s family would like to thank the doctors, nursing staff and team of medical specialists at Flagstaff Medical Center for their heroic efforts, kindness and compassion during this difficult time," the family's statement said. "The family is forever grateful for their tireless commitment to Lianne."

Lianne is survived by parents Brenda and Shawn, along with her 16-year-old sister Jaimee and many extended family. Funeral arrangements are pending.

In the meantime, anyone who would like to help her family, the YouCaring account can be found here. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $16,000 had been raised.

Meanwhile, a message from Shawn Dennstedt on the YouCaring site is encouraging college students to be sure to seek treatment when they feel sick sooner, rather than later.

"Meningitis, though rare, is prevalent on college campuses and military bases," the message states. "Places where large groups of young people are housed in close proximity. My advice would be to ensure your college students receive their meningitis booster shot and to seek treatment for illnesses sooner rather than later."

Images courtesy of YouCaring.com