In addition to the bereaved mother of a deceased 8-year-old boy speaking out about her loss, a GoFundMe campaign and an online obituary have been created in the little boy’s honor.
Liam Dahlberg was only 8 years old when he tragically passed away after contracting a bacterial infection. His devastated mother, Indiana citizen Ashlee Dahlberg, is channeling her grief into purpose by sharing her son’s story to warn other parents about the deadly disease in the hopes of ensuring they don’t have to endure the same unthinkable loss.
A Hoosier mother is using her grief to warn other parents about a bacterial infection that killed her 8-year-old son, Liam, within hours.
Here’s what you need to know about the extremely deadly bacterium: https://t.co/PpN4XdlUYV
📸 Ashlee Dahlberg pic.twitter.com/XpLvJCwcru
— WTHR.com (@WTHRcom) May 29, 2025
What began as an ordinary school day quickly unraveled into a nightmare for the Dahlberg family. In early April 2025, Liam returned home complaining of a headache. Within hours, Ashlee’s energetic and joyful little boy had spiraled into a state of delirium and physical distress.
By the following morning, he was being rushed to the hospital, his condition deteriorating at a terrifying pace. Doctors soon identified the culprit: Invasive Haemophilus influenzae type B — a rare, aggressive bacterial strain.
“This is not your typical everyday flu […] Anybody that contracts it usually dies within 24 hours,” said Ashlee. MRI scans revealed devastating damage. “That’s when they discovered the amount of bacteria that was covering his brain and spinal cord. Basically, at that point in time, there was nothing they could do,” Liam’s mom recounted tearfully.
Her son’s fight was swift and brutal. “I would never wish this kind of pain on my worst enemy ever. It’s hard,” divulged Ashlee.
She continued, “To have sat there and listen to the doctors say, ‘You did everything right, there’s just nothing we could do,’ to lay there with him as they took him off life support, I can feel his little heartbeat fade away — there’s no words that can describe that pain.”
A local news outlet chronicled Liam’s tragic decline in a poignant YouTube segment, sharing footage of the young boy lying in a hospital bed, writhing in pain and covered in medical sensors.
Medical professionals have long warned of the dangers posed by invasive Haemophilus influenzae, otherwise known as Hib or H. flu — a once-dominant killer that left scores of children dead or permanently disabled before the development of a vaccine in the 1980s.
Dr. Eric Yancy, a seasoned medical professional familiar with the bacterium’s history, noted that cases had sharply declined thanks to immunization efforts. However, he warned that falling vaccination rates in recent years have allowed the infection to resurface.
While Liam had been vaccinated, Yancy believes he may have been exposed to the bacteria by someone who wasn’t — possibly another child.
Now, Ashlee is speaking out, not only in mourning but as a voice of caution. “I feel like I have failed my child because I could not protect him from everything that would cause harm,” she expressed.
Ashlee has also channeled her grief into a powerful call for change. After Liam’s devastating death, which occurred within a mere 16 hours from the onset of symptoms, the heartbroken mother launched a petition on Change.org aimed at eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations in public schools.
In her petition, Ashlee writes, “Doctors informed us that the moment he contracted it, his fate was sealed.” That chilling certainty has now fueled her determination to tighten immunization policies nationwide.
At the heart of her campaign is the belief that public schools, as government institutions, should not permit religious exemptions for immunizations, especially when such allowances often reflect personal convictions rather than doctrinal mandates.
“Vaccines save lives. They are essential in ensuring the safety and health of communities, especially in places where people congregate daily, such as public schools,” Ashlee emphasized. She urged decision-makers to treat school vaccination requirements as a matter of public safety rather than personal ideology.
The petition calls for two pivotal changes: The complete removal of religious exemptions in public school systems and the enforcement of the Hib vaccination as a prerequisite for kindergarten enrollment.
Backed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data that highlights the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases in areas with declining immunization rates, Ashlee’s proposal seeks to protect the vulnerable by reinforcing community-wide defenses.
“For those who choose not to vaccinate due to personal beliefs, alternative schooling options should be explored, such as religious institutions that align with their views. Please sign this petition to protect our children and uphold public health in our schools,” concludes Ashlee’s message.
As of now, the petition has garnered 462 verified signatures — a growing show of support that reflects a collective urgency to protect children and prevent another tragic loss like Liam’s.
In the wake of the unimaginable loss, a community has rallied to support the Dahlberg family through a GoFundMe campaign organized by family friend Lauren Allen.
The fundraiser, created in Liam’s memory, aims to ease the crushing financial toll of his sudden passing, which included extensive medical costs following the onset of Haemophilus influenzae, the bacterial infection that developed into a fatal case of meningitis, which left him brain-dead.
Described as a “kind and sweet” boy who “touched the hearts of everyone around him,” Liam is remembered not only for his gentle spirit but also for the joy and promise he carried.
The campaign’s heartfelt message paints a portrait of a boy full of life — “bright and smart,” it says, someone whose presence brought “warmth to everyone he met.”
The fundraiser is a way for others to help lighten the family’s burden so they can focus on grieving and healing. So far, the campaign has raised over $54,000 of its $150,000 goal.
Accompanying the page are a series of photographs that offer a glimpse into Liam’s vibrant world: One shows him grinning proudly in a basketball jersey, another captures a playful moment as he clings to a giant spoon sculpture. The final image shows an endearing moment shared with his sisters and parents.
Like the GoFundMe page, William “Liam’s” online obituary offers a tender glimpse into his life. As a third grader at Lake Prairie Elementary School, Liam loved riding dirt bikes, playing for the Lowell Red Devil basketball team, and going on family vacations — especially those that took him outdoors, where he thrived.
He is survived by his loving parents, Ashlee and Erik Dahlberg, his sisters Khloe and Ava Dahlberg, and a close-knit extended family.
A touching image on the page shows him beaming in a blue plaid shirt beneath angel wings — a now-cherished snapshot of his bright spirit.
The family held visitation and funeral services on May 4 at Sheets Funeral Home in Lowell, Indiana, where mourners were encouraged to dress casually.
A Tribute Wall on the site has since filled with messages of love, memories, and condolences from a grieving community determined to honor the little boy who touched so many lives.
As tributes for Liam continue to pour in, many may wonder what Haemophilus influenzae exactly is. According to the Cleveland Clinic, Haemophilus influenzae is a type of bacteria that can cause a range of infections, from mild earaches to life-threatening conditions like meningitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord’s protective lining.
When the bacteria become invasive, they spread to areas of the body typically free of germs, such as the bloodstream or the fluid surrounding the brain, leading to severe complications that often require urgent hospital care.
The most common strain is Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), which is encased in a protective capsule that makes it more resistant to treatment. Hib is especially threatening to children under the age of five and individuals with weakened immune systems.
Before the development of the Hib vaccine, the bacterium caused around 20,000 serious infections in children in the United States each year. Thanks to immunization, that number dropped dramatically — in 2016, the CDC reported just 30 cases in children under five.
Yet, as Liam’s story illustrates, when community vaccination rates fall, even the vaccinated can be vulnerable if herd immunity breaks down.
At this time, we wish to extend our most heartfelt condolences to Ashlee, Erik, Khloe, Ava, Liam’s extended family, his friends, and all who knew and loved him, as they mourn such a significant loss. We hope for their healing amid their grief. RIP, dear Liam.
