LELAND — A close-knit Leelanau County community is grieving the loss of a local girl who died from complications of meningitis.
Alexandra "Allee" Romeo, 12, of Cedar, died Sunday at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids. The Leland Public School sixth-grader came down with an ear infection two weeks ago that ultimately turned into a rare form of pneumococcal meningitis.
"It's absolutely tragic," said Leland Superintendent Jason Stowe. "She was an outstanding student, and one of the most optimistic and kind souls you'll ever meet in your life."
Stowe said Allee became ill just after she finished choreographing her classmates in the school's spring dance concert. When the pain from the ear infection escalated last Friday, her family took her to the emergency room. A spinal tap determined that the pneumococcus bacteria had traveled to her brain, causing meningitis.
Allee was flown to Grand Rapids, where she died Sunday morning.
Michelle Klein, communicable disease coordinator for the Benzie-Leelanau Health Department, said that while the pneumococcus bacteria is a common cause of mild illnesses like ear infections and strep throat, severe complications are extremely rare.
"It's a bacteria that can travel to a lot of different regions in the body, but you typically treat it with antibiotics and your immune system can handle it pretty well," Klein said.
Unlike meningococcal meningitis, Klein said contact with someone who has pneumococcal meningitis presents no particular risk, and no precautions need to be taken by anyone who was in contact with Allee.
"If you see signs of an ear infection or strep throat, just see your doctor as usual," Klein said.
In a statement, the Romeo family said Allee donated her organs to give others "a second chance at life."
"We hope that in this, she will live on through others and in some way bring joy to their lives, as she did for us these past 12 years," the statement read.
Stowe said Allee was a student at Leland for two years, and was well known at the K-6 elementary school. In Allee's memory, parents, staff and students are wearing felt versions of butterflies, her favorite.
"She was one of those girls that was always seen smiling, always waving on the bus as it left," he said. "If people didn't know her by name, they knew her by face for sure because she was so noticeable."
A memorial service for Allee is planned for June 11 at 11 a.m. in the Leland High School gym. Arrangements are being handled by Covell Funeral Home of Traverse City.
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Allee Romeo
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