“We received support through the Rebuilding Futures Fund, which has helped fund one-to-one disability swimming lessons for Parker.”
Parker and his family have been navigating life after meningitis since he became unwell as a baby.
We have supported the family along their journey, most recently with special swimming lessons for Parker. You can help more family's like Parker's this 'Fiver Friday' by giving £5 to fund tailored support.
Parker's Mum, Becky, tells us their story here:
“Parker was just 13 months old when he became seriously unwell. When we called NHS 111 for advice, they immediately sent an ambulance — but at the time, our area was badly flooded. The air ambulance had nowhere safe to land, yet help still found a way to reach us.
“An ambulance drove through the floodwater to get as close as possible, and a local farmer stepped in to help, taking Parker in his tractor to meet an awaiting ambulance. Parker’s dad and I followed behind in a boat with the fire service, all working together to get him to hospital safely.
“What followed was every parent’s worst nightmare.
“Parker was lethargic, difficult to wake, and had a high temperature. Over the next two days, his condition deteriorated rapidly. He became sensitive to light, developed a high-pitched cry, and then began having seizures. After being admitted to hospital, meningitis was diagnosed two to three days later.
Fear and uncertainty
“Those early days were filled with fear and uncertainty, with no way of knowing how severely he would be affected or what the future might hold.
“As a result of meningitis, Parker was left with an acquired brain injury. The impact was profound. He lost the ability to walk, talk and swallow, and required intense physiotherapy and therapies to relearn skills that had already been part of his life. Through determination, hard work, and extensive support, he was able to regain these abilities, but the long-term effects remain.
“Today, Parker lives with hemiplegia and has lost the use of his left arm. He has a global developmental delay, a speech delay, some loss of vision in his left eye, and ADHD. He finds it difficult to regulate his emotions, often hyper fixates on things, and experiences anxiety around hospitals and illness. Life looks very different now than it did before meningitis.
Life-changing
“The impact on our family has been life-changing. Daily life is completely different. There are countless hospital appointments, school meetings, and ongoing research into how best to support Parker’s recovery and development. Emotionally, it is very up and down. Adjusting to so much change, while constantly advocating for your child, is exhausting but necessary.
“We first became aware of Meningitis Now while searching for information about meningitis during Parker’s hospital stay. Since then, the support we’ve received has made a real difference. The community support team has regularly checked in with us to see how we’re coping and whether there is any help we need, which has meant a great deal during difficult times.
Rebuilding Futures Fund
“More recently, we received support through the Rebuilding Futures Fund, which has helped fund one-to-one disability swimming lessons for Parker. He loves being in the swimming pool, but due to his additional needs, he wasn’t able to join a standard swimming class. These individual lessons have allowed him to progress his swimming skills while building strength and confidence in the water.
“Over the years, we have paid privately for speech therapy, constraint therapy, physiotherapy, thumb splints, AFOs, ADHD assessments and medication. The Rebuilding Futures Fund has helped to relieve some of the financial pressure and made ongoing support more accessible for our family.
“For any family currently going through a meningitis experience, I would say this: it is a long road. But when you look back at how far you’ve come, you begin to see the achievements and improvements — however small they may feel at the time. Recovery takes time, and progress isn’t always linear, but with the right support around you, it really does make a difference.
“We have been incredibly lucky to have dedicated physiotherapists, occupational therapists and orthotics supporting Parker along the way.
Source of support
“I would strongly encourage anyone affected by meningitis to get in touch with Meningitis Now. They have been such a great source of support for us, both practically and emotionally, and knowing you’re not facing this journey alone can make all the difference.
“I just want to thank you again for the help the Rebuilding Futures Fund has given us as a family.
Friday 27th February is our next ‘Fiver Friday’. For the price of a coffee and cake, you could help us to support people like Parker. By donating on Fiver Friday you could help us to provide more specialist support through the Rebuilding Futures Fund.
Part of something bigger
When your £5 joins with others, it becomes part of something much bigger – helping to fund vital services, specialist equipment, financial assistance, and hope for those navigating life after meningitis. Each fiver combines to create brighter futures, more support when it’s needed most, and a community that shows no one has to face meningitis alone.
It takes just a moment to give. It creates an impact that lasts far longer. And when we all pull together, even the smallest act of kindness becomes extraordinary.
If you can, please donate what you can to the Fiver Friday appeal here -
