Fight for her life

Photographer: John Dixon

Dr. James Gregory and his staff treated Erica for Seven Weeks in Carle Foundation Hospital's surgical intensive care unit.

Photographer: John Dixon

Erica Van Zuidam mother, Jancie, wrote of the ordeal nightly from May to September 2005. The journal now sites unopened on her nightstand. 'I'm not sure I want to relive it again,' she said.

Photographer: John Dixon

Erica Van Zuidam looks into the mirror as she brushes her hair. Erica, a University of Illinios student who lost her hands and feet after a bout of bacterial meningitis, plans to return to campus in the fall.

Photographer: John Dixon

The family's love, support and sense of humor helped Erica continue to adjust to the life with prosthetic limbs.

Photographer: John Dixon

Erica Van Zuidam holds one of the 15 pairs of shoes she wears on her prostetic feet. Erica, who admits to a lifelong shoe fetish, laughs as she explains, "My mom jokes that I have more shoes than other people that have feet!"

Photographer: John Dixon

Jamie Van Zuidam stands behind Erica to look in a mirror after doing her older sister's hair. The entire VanZuidam family has drawn closer together - and deepened its Christian faith - since Erica's illness.

Photographer: John Dixon

Tim, Erica and Janice VanZuidam stand todether, above at their home in Lansing.

Photographer: John Dixon

Erica Van Zuidam listens to her mother, Janice, and father, Tim, tell the story of her battle with meningitis. The Lansing native was finishing her freshman year at the University of Illinois when she got sick.