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Long time Danville Town Council member Mike Shimansky is listed in serious condition in a San Diego hospital, where he is being treated for bacterial meningitis.
Shimansky, 65, was in San Diego on Aug. 17 visiting with his son, daughter and grandchildren when he exhibited flu-like symptoms. He was hospitalized later that day and has since been in the ICU in a drug-induced coma since his admission.
Doctors are treating the meningitis as well as secondary conditions that have been brought about by the bacterial infection. One of the secondary conditions caused Shimansky to undergo surgery last Friday for the amputation of his feet to just below the knee.
According to a statement issued by the Town of Danville, Shimansky’s condition has stabilized, but he has yet to regain consciousness.
Meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, is caused by either a viral or bacterial infection. Bacterial Meningitis is considered to be the more severe version of the illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Symptoms include high fever, headache and vomiting.
A member of the Town Council for 20 years, Shimansky has been mayor three times. He resides in town with his wife Sue and daughter Cyndi.
Fellow council member Karen Stepper said she is hopeful that Shimansky will be able to make a good recovery from the illness. She said that the pair has a long history together, even before they were on the council.
“We go back a long way. Mike and my husband coached his daughter Cyndi and my daughter Shannon in soccer back when they were 7 years old,” she recalled. She added, “Our prayers are with them. We’re hoping as he wakes up he gets stronger.”
Another colleague, Councilwoman Candace Andersen, said she holds out high hopes for Shimansky’s recovery.
“Mike is someone who is so strong in spirit and energy that we hope he’ll make a very strong recovery,” she said.
Town officials have asked that well wishers direct any e-mails to shimansky@msn.com. Get well cards may be sent to Mike in care of the Town Offices, 510 La Gonda Way, Danville, CA 94526. Cards will be forwarded on to the Shimansky family.
Dear Dolores,
The Danville neighborhoods within the Diablo Vista region send the very best wishes to Mike’s family. Danville neighborhoods north of Diablo Road wish Mike a very quick recovery.
With courtesy to my neighbors in Danville,
Hal Bailey
Mike is the member of the Danville Town Council I most respected, when I lived in Danville from August 1, 1985 to December 4, 2007.
His work as a volunteer for the American Red Cross, and on the County Connection Board of Directors are examples for me to follow.
My prayers are for his speedy recovery.
Our prayers go out to Mike Shimansky and his famliy.
I am the mother of an only child, Ryan, who died from of meningococcal meningitis and the founder and executive director of a national organization, Meningitis Angels, http://www.meningitis-angels.org.
Too many infants,kids ,teens and young adults and occasionally older adults are left debilitated or die from this vaccine preventable disease.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is a dangerous and sometimes fatal inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord that can leave survivors with serious life-long physical problems such as, organ failure, blindness, deafness, loss of limbs, severe seizures, brain damage and other disabilities.
You should also understand meningococcemia and sepsis.
Signs and Symptoms
The early signs of meningitis and blood poisoning which could improve detection of the disease and save lives are unrelenting fever, leg pain, cold hands and feet and abnormal skin color can develop within (12 hours) after infection long before the more classic signs of the illness such as a rash, headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light and impaired consciousness, debilitation or death. Anyone can get meningitis especially infants, children and teens.
What parents and students should know:
According to ACIP/CDC children ages (11) years through college freshmen should be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis. The current vaccines are approved for ages (2) years and older. However be informed, there are (5) sero-groups of the disease, all sero-groups are not covered. However the most common in the United States are sero-groups C Y, W135 and A which are.
Infants and toddlers should be vaccinated against pneumococcal and HIB meningitis.
Those children in daycare and those of American Indian, Eskimo and African American heritage are at a higher risk for some forms of meningitis.
There are no vaccines to prevent viral meningitis.
Frankie Milley, Meningitis Angels, Founder/National Director
My heart goes out to the Shimansky family. What a terrible, terrible illness.
I hope that you and yours are finding solace and support.
We send our deepest prayers and sincere best wishes for health to Mike. Over the years, he has worked hard for the community. We appreciate him. Our best thoughts and wishes to his family too.
We’ve know Mike for awhile. Not a long while, but long enough to know what a fine man he is. We’ve always appreciated his stories and his humor. We send our sincerest and best thoughts to him, his wife, and his family. It is our hope that his health return quickly and he comes back home to his Danville. As a person, he’s far too precious to lose.
I encountered Mike while working on a committee for the town. He was always polite, respectful and thoughtful. He is an asset to our community and has put in a lot of hours and time for the good of us all. We need more like him around. All our thoughts and best wishes go to him and his family. Hoping for a speedy recovery.
Although we have been at odds many times over the years in his position on the Town Council, I only wish he and his family the best right now. Our thoughts and prayers are with he and his family during this very difficult time.
All of us at Diablo Lodge send our prayers and best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery to Mike.
We are a small and diverse town and appreciate all the work that Mike has done over the years to maintain Danville as a very special place to live.
Our thoughts and support also are for his family and coworkers.
The Athenian School community sends its thoughts and prayers out to Mike and his family.
Get well Mike, this town needs you.
In the early 1990’s, Mike and I served together on the Board of Shepherd’s Gate. His guidance during that time made a positive and enduring impact on the ability of this remarkable place, to shelter women and their children. Mike, our prayers are with you.
I know Mike as a neighbor and public servant. My family’s prayers are asking for a rapid recovery.
We need Mike to get healthy so he can continue his work making Danville the kind of town we’re all proud to be a part of.
Mike was a fellow volunteer for the American Red Cross when I was the Government Liaison between the Town of Danville and the Red Cross many years ago. I was always in awe of him, although he was an unpretentious, modest, genuine human being who contributed his time and talent generously to a variety of charitable and community organizations. His hands-on work as a Red Cross disaster volunteer on assignment to out-of-town and out-of-state sites was especially impressive from my point of view. Mike, you and your family are in my heart and prayers always.
The Meningitis Foundation of America (MFA), a national organization, would like the public and media to know that information is available regarding the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of meningitis. MFA was founded by parents whose children were affected by meningitis. In addition to supporting vaccines and other means of preventing meningitis, the MFA provides information to educate the public and medical professionals so that the early diagnosis, treatment and, most important, prevention of meningitis, will save lives. Meningitis is a dangerous and sometimes fatal inflammation of the brain and/or spinal cord that can leave survivors with serious life-long physical problems such as deafness, brain damage and other disabilities, meningitis can sometimes result in loss of limbs. MFA would like to be considered as a news resource for the disease. For further information, visit the MFA website at http://www.musa.org.
MFA is proud to announce the new C.I.S.S. Container Identification Scratch System
When we participate in sporting events or mingle at social gatherings it is possible to lose track of our water bottles and/or beverage cans, especially those served in containers that are very similar or identical to a container from which you are drinking. This carries the risk of transmitting an illness, such as meningitis or the common cold or flu. The Container Identification Scratch System, or C.I.S.S., is a fun way to make sure you always know your drink from others. Use it at sporting events or at family gatherings and reduce the waste from forgotten drinks. Simply scratch your number from the C.I.S.S. label and identify your drink. For more information please contact Bob Gold at Ciss.bob@gmail.com and http://www.musa.org
Please e-mail the Meningitis Foundation of America (MFA) if you are interested in helping us raise awareness of this killer disease.
Thank you,
Meningitis Foundation of America
P O Box 1818
El Mirage AZ 85335
480 270 2652
http://www.musa.org
Join Hands against Meningitis http://www.comoonline.org/wmd.html
Mike has been a friend and public servant in the real sense of the word for as long as I have lived in Danville. He is a great guy and would do anything to keep our town running smoothly. He has been very helpful in anything that was asked of him. We wish him and his family the best in these unsettling days.