PORTLAND, Ore. - The parents of 6-year-old Justin Jackson want families everywhere to know it can happen to you too. 

The Klamath Falls boy is in a hospital bed at Doernbecher Children's Hospital, having spent the last month fighting for his life.

Two days after he was diagnosed with the H1N1 flu, Justin's fever spiked to 105.8 degrees.  He began vomiting non-stop. His left eye was hurting and swollen.

The Jacksons, who are on the Oregon Health Plan, contacted an on-call advice nurse no less than 15 times over the next couple of days, seeking pre-authorization to see a doctor.  They say she diagnosed Justin over the phone with pinkeye.

Then came the jumbled words.

"What made us take him to the doctor anyway is he started repeating himself over and over," said Jason Jackson, his father, "because by that time, the meningitis had gotten to his brain."

By the time Justin was transported to Doernbecher, the brain infection was so severe, doctors had to remove part of his forehead to relieve the swelling.

He was put on a breathing tube, a catheter and given seven types of antibiotics.  At one point, his father says, Justin had just a one-percent chance of living.

Dr. Tammy Wagner, a pediatric hospitalist at Doernbecher, says the medical community is still learning how the swine flu can predispose children to secondary infections.

"We know that after a serious viral infection, you may have an increased risk for a secondary bacterial infection, and one of the most severe bacterial infections we worry about is meningitis," said Wagner.

Wagner calls these "superinfections," and they include ear infections and pneumonia, but "meningitis can be very devastating, very significant, and dangers are acute infection of the brain and short term and long term brain damage."

On Friday, Justin took a big step.  He started following eye contact, said "Momma" three times, and the word "yes" once. 

His father said, "Going from a child who was one of the smartest kids in his class to (this) is heartbreaking.  I just really want this to get out so other people don't have to experience this."

Dr. Wagner says it may take up to a year or more of rehabilitation to determine if Justin will fully recover from bacterial meningitis.  He transfers to another hospital for rehabilitation on Monday.

Wearing a black hat with "Jesus" embroidered in white letters, Jason Jackson said, "We just prayed to God, if He wanted to take him, take him now, don't put us through this.  God is letting him live.  I truly believe Justin's going to fully recover."

"I've grown a lot closer to God."

A test of faith, indeed.

Symptoms of Bacterial Meningitis

• High fever
• Headache
• Sensitivity to light
• Confusion
• Dramatic changes in behavior

Go to the CDC for more information on how to protect your family.