Meningitis stories

Danielle thought she had contracted flu but in fact the new mum, from Lurgan in County Armagh, had something even worse – pneumococcal meningitis

Meningococcal meningitis has left Paul profoundly deaf and with other lifelong after-effects. He tells his story here.

In what would have been Craig's 30th year, Meningitis Now supporter and mum Vicky recounts the heartbreaking story of losing her eight week old baby boy

Twenty-four-year-old Nick, from Brixton in London, fell ill last summer with meningococcal meningitis. Nick is taking on the London Vitality 10K for us on Monday 27 May

When Louise went home from a night out feeling sick, she had no idea that she was going to end up in hospital - although it took a while for her to be diagnosed

When Mac - then seven months old - became unsettled, mum Rachel felt that he was more ill than doctors thought. She was soon proved correct

Nicole was feeling unwell when she travelled to South America, but miles away from home, her symptoms became unbearable

Emilia's parents were already carefully monitoring her as she became more unsettled, but when her fontanelle started to bulge they knew that something was seriously wrong

Isabella contracted pneumococcal meningitis as a baby, which has left her with after-effects such as an acquired brain injury and hearing loss. Mum Gemma tells her story

At 23, Abigail was happy, positive and enjoying life. However, following a few days of vague but worsening symptoms, she became seriously unwell and sadly passed away. Aunt Fiona shares her story

Now an adult, Sian was just two years old when she contracted meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia. Luckily, her mum recognised her symptoms from one of our leaflets

After baby son Josh's terrifying battle with pneumococcal meningitis, mum Emma took on our Marathon Month - all in one day!

Born three months early, baby Lola is doing well; however, twin brother Luca has contracted meningitis four times, leaving him with life-changing after-effects

By the age of four, Ben had contracted meningitis twice. He has been left with a variety of after-effects but, as mum Angela explains, lives his life to the full

Emma and Jason were able to spend 30 precious days with their baby son Thomas before his fight with meningitis became too much. Emma shares their story

Shakira had no signs of meningitis - she was a very happy, sassy little girl. Mum, Faye, didn’t know it was meningitis, but she knew that somehow her life was in danger

Emily was just 6 weeks old when she was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis - but not until she and mum Ellie had gone away for the weekend

After a difficult birth, Edith was just four days old when mum Amy noticed her grunting and that her toes were going purple

What started for Kirsten with a severe headache and vomiting was viral meningitis, as confirmed by a lumber puncture.

After a terrifying brush with meningitis, primary school teacher Alyx H, from Bristol, has happily recovered and is now expecting her first child