GoFundMe started for Emmanuel freshman almost killed by rare meningitis

Friends of a freshman at Emmanuel College who contracted bacterial meningitis in March and is still in the hospital have started a GoFundMe to help her family with medical expenses. 

Adele Younes, 19, contracted a rare form of meningitis which led to sepsis on March 16, according to the GoFundMe. She was on life support for weeks and had to have her fingers and left foot amputated, according to the fundraiser. 

“As she is fighting through this illness, she remains determined,” The GoFundMe reads. “Her road to recovery will be long with many obstacles and medical expenses.”

Emmanuel College notified the community on March 20 that it was taking preventative measures after a student was hospitalized with meningitis, a highly contagious infection that is most common in teenagers and young adults living in community settings.  

Younes was a star student her first semester of college, according to the GoFundMe, making the dean’s list. 

“She is a beautiful young woman who is full of life and can life up the darkest rooms,” the page reads. 

Younes is undergoing multiple “complex” surgeries on her road to recovery and will need prosthetics to restore her mobility. 

“The cost of prosthetics and all expenses included are far beyond what her family is able to afford,” the fundraiser says. 

“Any donations or contributions, no matter the amount, will make a huge difference in improving the quality of her life,” the post continues. “Your donation will directly go to the cost and re-adjustments of the prosthetics, rehabilitation, and any other medical expenses associated with Adele’s journey to independence.”

Over $88,400 has been raised for Younes out of a $250,000 goal. 

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