Spunky 10-year-old Katie Mass stayed with grandparents Bill and Linda Mass of Omaha several days last week. On the last day of her visit, Katie complained of a headache.
Four days later, on Monday, Kathryn Marie Jean "Katie" Mass died at Children's Hospital & Medical Center in Omaha of bacterial meningitis.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Katie's was "the worst case, hardly-ever-happens scenario," Linda Mass said hospital officials told the family.
Katie attended kindergarten through fourth grade at Hillside Elementary School in the Westside Community Schools. The district notified families of children in Katie's class and made crisis counselors available Wednesday, said district spokeswoman Peggy Rupprecht.
Katie liked reading, art and science, her grandmother said. Katie also liked attending drag races with her grandparents and playing with her pet goose, which she named Steve Dinner.
"She was a very beautiful, caring child," said Linda Mass.
Besides her grandparents, Katie is survived by her mother, Gloria Mass of North Bend, Neb.; father, Jason Bruns of Omaha; sister Kendra, 5, of North Bend; half sisters Cassidy Bruns, 12, and Cydney Bruns, 2, both of Omaha; and grandparents Judy and Michael Bruns of Omaha.
Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lifegate Church, 15555 West Dodge Road.
Contact the writer: 402-444-1165, sue.truax@owh.com
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