News & Stories
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Stories
Ellis B’s story
Samantha’s baby son Ellis fell ill with blisters in his mouth and lips and a high temperature. He was lethargic, rejected feeds and his skin was mottled and pale. He went to A&E and viral meningitis was diagnosed but now, four months later, he’s getting back to his normal self, as Samantha from Albrighton in the West Midlands tells us here.
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Stories
Amy S’s story
Amy, from Kilsyth in North Lanarkshire, contracted viral meningitis at the age of 25 in November this year. Her symptoms included head pressure and headache, photophobia, body aches, sinusitis and vomiting. Fortunately treatment was prompt, but she’s still suffering some symptoms and struggling to get back to normal, as she tells us here.
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Stories
Terrie D’s story
Terrie from Bedfordshire was on holiday when she became unwell. After flying home her condition became worse and she was later diagnosed with viral meningitis. She shares her story.
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Stories
Glyn B's story
Glyn from Belfast was diagnosed with viral meningitis at 39. The after-effects impacted her confidence and work-life. With a positive change in career and the help of a Community Support Officer Glyn has been able to regain her confidence and begin to enjoy things again.
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Stories
Charles S's Story
Student Charles, from London, was 24 when he fell ill with flu like symptoms, including a stiff neck and photophobia. He ignored the symptoms because he hadn’t heard of viral meningitis, but his mother quickly realised something was not right and called 999. Charles is now one of our volunteer ambassadors and tells his story here.
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Stories
Charlotte McG’s story
Charlotte, from Bristol, contracted viral meningitis, aged 39, in June this year. She had a severe headache, felt sick, a stiff neck, was sensitive to light and had a high temperature. In hospital a lumbar puncture showed she had contracted viral meningitis. She tells her story here.
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Stories
Hannah B’s story
Hannah contracted meningitis in October 2020. It started with an ear infection, which turned into viral, and then bacterial meningitis, and she spent two weeks in hospital. Doctors told her she would be okay, but she was left with persistent, debilitating headaches. She wondered why, if her ‘medical’ problem of meningitis had been solved, she was still in chronic pain, as she tells us here.
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Stories
Julia E's Story
Julia, from Aberbargoed in Wales, was diagnosed with viral meningitis eight days before Christmas in 2019. Over four years later, Julia is still recovering from the after-effects of the disease. She recounts her experience here.
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Stories
Hayley R’s story
Hayley is a mother from Gloucestershire who contracted viral meningitis last year and is still recovering from the after-effects. She and her family are keen to raise awareness and fundraise and in September her husband and daughters raised almost £1000 in completing the Five Valleys Walk. Hayley shares her experience here.
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Stories
Barbara K's Story
Viral meningitis has been a life-changing experience for Barbara, who fell ill aged 49 with intense sinus pain, stiff neck, back pain, intolerance to light and vomiting in May 2017. Fortunately, she found the time to concentrate on recovery and finding her new normal. Barbara, from the Scottish Borders, recounts her experience here.
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Stories
Annette T's Story
Annette fell ill in 2018 with headaches and photophobia. Her condition worsened to include altered taste and appetite, vomiting, confusion, erratic behaviour and foul language. The 58-year-old from Woodingdean in East Sussex was eventually diagnosed with viral meningoencephalitis, which has had a life-altering impact on her and her family, as she tells us here.
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Stories
Ailla T’s story
When Ailla from Northants was a baby she became ill and her mum, Kim suspected this was something more serious than the colic that was initially suggested. In hospital Ailla was diagnosed with viral meningitis and made a good recovery. Now a teenager, Ailla is fundraising for Meningitis Now.