ERIC BRADY The Roanoke Times

Dr. David Killeen, a pulmonologist at Lewis-Gale Medical Center, gives Scott Riley a thumbs up Monday as he leaves the room. It was the first time Riley saw Killeen while conscious. Killeen treated Riley for a rare form of bacterial meningitis. Riley recovered and should be released today.

Aside from a few lesions on his hands, Virginia Tech sophomore Scott Riley looked like he could head to classes Monday.

Sitting on his Lewis-Gale Medical Center bed in a T-shirt and shorts, the 19-year-old bacterial meningitis survivor gave interviews to reporters less than two weeks after contracting the sometimes fatal infection.

Riley is expected to make a full recovery -- a prognosis doctors say is just short of miraculous.

The fisheries science major thanked friends who pushed him to seek medical care and said he hoped his story would "make people more aware of what to do if they have symptoms."

Twice an ambulance brought Riley to Montgomery Regional Hospital in Blacksburg on Sept. 24. Vomiting and nausea pointed to a possible stomach virus at noon. But by midnight, Riley was in trouble.

With his blood pressure dropping and his kidneys and lungs failing, Riley had about a 10 percent chance of survival, Dr. David Killeen said.

He was in such bad shape, doctors feared immediate transport to Salem could be dangerous. So he remained in Blacksburg until about 10 a.m. Saturday.

Riley arrived at Lewis-Gale about 11 a.m. on a ventilator, Killeen said.

His parents, awakened by a call from hospital staff about 3 a.m., stood vigil and prayed, along with many in the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.

There were so many ifs.

If his roommate and resident adviser hadn't pressured him to go to the emergency room for the second time.

If the emergency room nurse hadn't noticed the rash on his legs.

If he hadn't been so young and strong.

If doctors had chosen different drug therapies.

"There were a bunch of steps along the way where something could have not gone right," Killeen said. "The stars aligned for this guy."

Killeen said he used an unorthodox treatment with Riley -- a blood thinner. Riley's telltale rash was caused by severe clotting. Circulation problems caused by clotting can lead to limb loss and other complications.

Of the handful of severe bacterial meningitis cases Killeen has seen in his career, he said those lucky enough to survive have suffered permanent damage.

In 2002, Hokies basketball player Rayna DuBose was hospitalized in a coma and eventually lost parts of all four of her limbs to the infection.

But Riley began to turn around within 24 hours, Killeen said.

Aside from occasional sensitivity to light and some weakness, he was doing well Monday. Doctors expect him to be released today.

As a precaution, 102 people, including 66 Tech students who'd had contact with Riley, were treated with antibiotics, said Maribeth Coluni, who oversees infectious disease prevention for Lewis-Gale and other HCA hospitals across Southwest Virginia.

Riley said he will spend some time at home in Midlothian before returning to Tech. The avid fisherman said he hopes to finish his degree and work on restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.