Koral Reef , 20 , died last month after a lengthy and protracted battle against the little - known parasite Balamuthia mandrillaris . Reef was we d to her high school graduation in July 2013 just months before she began showing symptoms like headache , fatigue and stiff neck . Reef 's mother Sybil Meister - who picked up the amoeba on a trip to Lake Havasu in May 2013 -- she was dead by October 2014 .
Koral Reef , 20 , died last year after a horrifying and protracted battle against the little-understood parasite Balamuthia mandrillaris . Reef was wed to her high school sweetheart in July 2013 just months before she began showing symptoms like headache , fatigue and stiff neck . Reef 's mother Sybil Meister believes Reef picked up the amoeba on a trip to Lake Havasu in May 2013 -- she was dead by October 2014 .