Warren Jordaan is a gregarious character on the Free State roads and easily noticeable with his distinctive dreadlocks and bright orange and green Kroonstad Running Club kit. I was recently in the ‘States’ to run the Lemo Mall Marathon and noticed that he was accessorising his regular running kit with a blue tutu and asked him “Why?”. It is a sad but inspirational story.
Warren is an admin clerk at the Kroonstad Magistrates Court with a side hustle as a semi-professional photographer at LuJor Photography, a company he has owned since 2016. Warren shares an office with Nanette McGowan and when Nanette’s daughter, Jessica, had her matric farewell dance towards the end of 2023, Warren offered his photographic skills to immortalise the moment. He recalls, “I had the privilege of photographing Jessica McGowan at her matric farewell. She was wearing the most beautiful blue dress.” One of the photos is below and I’m sure you’ll agree that Jessica looks radiant in her stunning blue gown and sensible Converse sneakers.
After matriculating, Jessica enrolled at the University of North West in Potchefstroom and began her degree in Social Work at the start of 2024. She had a bright future ahead of her. However, as final exams approached, she contracted bacterial meningitis and died two days later on 14 October 2024.
There is a non-mandatory, little-known vaccine that would have prevented this tragedy and that is why Warren is wearing the blue tutu. Warren is doing his best to raise awareness so that another family does not have to suffer the same heartbreak, “I have since started to run races wearing a blue tutu in remembrance of Jessica and her matric farewell dress – and by so doing I also want to bring awareness about meningitis, especially amongst students.”
The impact on the McGowan family has been immense. Nanette told me, “For parents to live through this, is impossibly cruel and heart-breaking. Some days I still do not know how to get through the day with the devastating sadness that this is causing for us as a family. We are broken. The impact is brutal on me, my husband and my son – and it will still take a long time before we will be able to live a full life again, but we are keeping faith.”
She wishes that she had known about the vaccine and wants other parents to be aware, “It is important for parents to know that students are one of the biggest target groups of this illness and that vaccinations are available. It does not guarantee that this bacterial illness (bacterial meningitis or meningococcal meningitis) will not be contracted or be fatal, but it might help. From information from friends, I learned that a few years ago it was mandatory for students at North West University to get vaccinated before they could enrol for studies. My wish is that universities will bring this to the attention of parents and/or students and advise them to get the vaccine. At least then, parents and students can make informed choices. We did not know about this illness or vaccination prior to the passing of my daughter.”
Sadly, Jessica was not the first NWU student to succumb to bacterial meningitis, “Another NWU student at Potchefstroom passed away 5 years ago and another NWU student 9 years ago. This is only the students that I know about. I do not know how many other children suffered the same fate, but that makes it one child every four years.”
As the father of two teenage daughters, Warren has certainly increased awareness in my own household. I thought it was worthwhile getting some expert opinion from a specialist. Paediatric infectious diseases physician and Comrades Green # 30537, Dr. Alastair McAlpine, duly obliged, “Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the membranes (meninges) that surround the brain. It is extremely serious, and even with prompt treatment, 1 in 6 people who contract it will die. Of the survivors, as many as 1 in 5 will have serious injuries like hearing loss or stroke. People most at risk are young children and (strangely) adolescents/young adults.”
What should one look out for? “Meningitis can present in many ways, but the usual signs are drowsiness, severe headache, neck stiffness, intolerance to light (‘photophobia’), fever and vomiting. Sometimes, it may be accompanied by a purplish rash.”
Dr. McAlpine finishes off with some good news, there are vaccines to protect one against all three strains of the disease, “There are three main bacteria that cause meningitis, and we have very effective vaccines against all three that have been used for decades with an excellent safety profile. Two of them are part of the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule, which all children should receive. The third, the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine, is only available in private. For those who can afford it, vaccination during childhood, and/or another dose for those entering university (especially if they’re going into residence) should be considered.”
The optional, additional vaccine that is not part of the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule is the one that would have protected Jessica. It costs roughly R1,000 although there may be an additional consulting fee. It is highly recommended to check with your medical aid whether they will cover the cost of the vaccine.
Warren has his own inspirational story. As a teenager he became addicted to crack cocaine. The addiction lasted for 12 years, well into his young adult life. He was fortunate to be able to kick the habit with the support of an ‘amazing girlfriend’ who is now his wife and they now have three children together.
Warren started running in 2018 with the 10km at the Mielie Marathon in Welkom and says, “Running gives me a deep sense of fulfilment when I look back from whence I came.” The impact of Jesscia’s death on Warren was profound and he ran his first race in a blue tutu, the Trio Primêre Skool straatmyl, less than a week after her passing. It was especially symbolic for Warren as he ran with his own 5-year-old daughter. Warren also matched Jessica’s footwear for the street mile by running in Converse sneakers but will be replacing these with the more sensible option of his trusty Adidas takkies on the road between Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
Warren will be running his fourth Comrades marathon this Sunday and is aiming to finish with a safe bronze around the 10h30 mark. You can track Warren via his race number, 46950, on the Comrades site (https://www.comrades.com/) or app. If you are fortunate enough to see Warren and his blue tutu on the road this Sunday, give him a shout of support.
For most of the Comrades field, the primary objective will be to cross the finish line in Durban under 12 hours. For Warren this is a secondary goal. Some people run in an outfit for fun, some people run in an outfit for attention but Warren is running in his unique outfit to raise awareness for a disease that kills about 4,000 South Africans each year.
It’s appropriate to give the final word in this article to the grieving mother, “Bacterial meningitis is a devastating illness that killed my beautiful child within 48 hours. If the awareness that Warren wants to raise can save only one child’s life, it would already be more than worth it!” Good luck on achieving both your goals this weekend Warren!
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All the best to Warren and thank you for sharing this story and awareness. Honestly it is not shared enough.
Oh Wawa, thank you for the awareness and Good luck.
All the best Warren