1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

In early April 1903, the O'Marra family gathered for the funeral of their oldest son, John, who died of pneumonia on March 30th. A cousin who had come to the funeral, unwittingly brought a deadly gift for the grieving family.   On April 10, nine-year-old Julia O’Marra was taken down with respiratory “black” diphtheria. As the bacteria grew thick dark membranes around her tonsils and throat, she grew weak, gasping for air, until the membrane completely blocked her airway. On the morning of Tuesday, April 14, Julia suffocated to death. She was buried the same afternoon.   Annie (age 13) and James (age 4) died on April 18th. Nellie (age 17) died April 19th. William (age 21), Hanora (age 6), and Maggie (6 months) died April 20th. Mary (age 18) died on April 22nd. All from diphtheria.   Lizzie (age 11) was the only surviving child in the family.   20 years later, the diphtheria vaccine was developed by two scientists working independently: Gaston Ramon and Alexander Thomas Glenny.   We must not forget what life (and death) was like before childhood vaccines were widely available and used. These diseases played for keep and destroyed whole families.   STOP THE NOMINATION of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - a known vaccine denier - as the Secretary of Health and Human Services.