Gloria June Pruett contracted diphtheria at the age of 2 1/2. She was hospitalized. Grandma Pruett told the story many times that she thought Gloria was getting better but the doctor didn’t. The doctor wanted to give Gloria a shot which might help but might not. The shot was given and Gloria died soon after. Grandma grieved for an extended period of time – her children were her life and she loved each one dearly. There are no known pictures of Gloria.

From the CDC 2013:

Diphtheria is a serious disease caused by a toxin (poison) made by bacteria. It causes a thick coating in the back of the nose or throat that makes it hard to breathe or swallow. It can be deadly.

The coating on the throat can get so thick that it blocks the airway, so the person can’t breathe.

The diphtheria toxin can attack the heart, causing abnormal heart rhythms and even heart failure. It can also attack the nerves, which leads to paralysis (unable to move parts of the body).

About 1 out of 10 people who get diphtheria dies. In children younger than 5 years, as many as 1 out of 5 children who get diphtheria dies.