Meningitis stories

Ben was a drama student when he became ill with what he thought was the start of a nasty cold. He quickly deteriorated, and woke up in hospital with a diagnosis of bacterial meningococcal meningitis

Sarah thought she had a migraine, but as tests showed the 26-year-old midwife had contracted meningococcal meningitis

Now 39, Stacey was diagnosed with viral meningitis at 18 after her mum rushed her to A&E with a severe headache, sickness and aching all over her body

Kerri has had viral meningitis three times now, and is learning to live with the after-effects - both on her and her family

Ashley fell ill with viral meningitis about a year ago - a time that left her feeling incredibly alone as doctors weren't able to give her much information about what was happening to her

After viral meningitis left her housebound and dependent on a wheelchair, Kiri is keen for more resources to go into understanding and treating post-viral after-effects

Having recently returned home from hospital, Sammi is keen to raise awareness of bacterial meningitis and how a rash doesn't always appear

24 year-old Charlotte still suffers with after-effects of exhaustion nearly a year after being diagnosed with viral meningitis, which caused her to feel the most ill that she'd ever felt

With support from Believe & Achieve, Rachel has a renewed sense of determination and confidence, after struggling with long-term after-effects of viral meningitis since 2017

Ben contracted bacterial meningitis when he was 15. Fortunately, he received medical care quickly as his condition deteriorated and he continues to recover well

51-year-old David, from Glasgow, had been suffering with severe earache, leading to headaches and vomiting before a lumbar puncture confirmed bacterial meningitis

Once the figurehead of the family, Simon now lives with life-changing after-effects of bacterial meningitis - including severe memory loss, mobility issues and hearing loss

After undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour, Colin has been left with a complication that has resulted in him contracting bacterial pneumococcal meningitis once, and viral meningitis five times

Aged 41, Natalia suffered a stroke caused by bacterial pneumococcal meningitis, which left her with after-effects for over a year

It took Peter two visits to A&E before he was admitted to hospital with bacterial meningitis - by which time he was slurring his words, couldn't keep food or medicine down and was displaying multiple symptoms

Since being hospitalised with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, Sam is keen to highlight the support available for anyone else who has been affected by the disease

As Kim recovered from bacterial meningitis in 1997 she could only watch as she lost her toes, one by one. In 2008 something clicked and she found herself able to return to the sport she loved the most - running

Instead of celebrating her 30th birthday, Ipek was hospitalised with an initial diagnosis of viral meningitis. Days later though, as her condition deteriorated, it was discovered that she was suffering with the bacterial form of the disease

Karen, from Wales, is keen to raise awareness of Mollaret's meningitis - a rare, recurring form of viral meningitis - having had the disease seven times since 2008

Louisa was 23 when she was struck with a series of catastrophic illnesses, including streptococcal meningitis, leaving her with acquired brain injury