Meningitis stories

On the morning of Jackie's 40th birthday, she was very unwell - shivering, feeling sick and with a high temperature. Luckily, doctors reacted quickly; daughter Rosie tells her story

Maria thought her headache was a result of treatment for an existing medical condition, but as her symptoms worsened she knew something was wrong

Two years ago, Gemma was diagnosed with viral meningitis after flu-like symptoms became more severe. Read her story

After spending five days in a coma, Lindsey has been left with no hearing in her left ear after contracting meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia

Halle was rushed to hospital by her fiancé in January 2019; she had contracted bacterial meningitis. She showed no symptoms and despite being rushed to hospital didn’t regain consciousness

Joanne was 29 when she contracted meningitis in 2009; now, with coping techniques and medication, she is able to manage her after-effects

Patricia misses her son all the time - but especially at Christmas - after he died of meningococcal septicaemia in 1998

On the tenth anniversary of the loss of husband Af to pneumococcal meningitis, Caroline shares her heartbreaking story

Nicola was pregnant when she became ill. She had a high fever, an aversion to lights, vomiting, a headache, stiff neck and achy limbs – all symptoms of meningitis.

21-year-old Saracens and England rugby player Rosie is fighting fit after being hospitalised with meningococcal septicaemia back in September

Isabel recounts the tragic story of how she lost her father, Gary, to bacterial meningitis

Shaun had a cold over Christmas, which was later found to be pneumococcal meningitis. He sadly passed away a few days later. His family wants people to know that #AdultsGetItToo

Sharon contracted viral meningitis in 2018. Here she talks about her experience and her road to recovery after meningitis

After Stacy's 40th birthday she started to feel unwell. The next day she was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis.

Student Matthew started feeling unwell at work, and it wasn't long before he collapsed, ending up on life support in hospital

Daisy didn't think that her illness could be meningitis, as she didn't have a rash. However, as her symptoms worsened, she was soon being treated for the worst-case scenario

Breastfeeding mum Kasie found her treatment options were limited when she contracted viral meningitis, but she is glad she chose to continue

Stephanie spent six days in hospital before being diagnosed with viral meningitis. However, she wasn't aware of the after-effects of the disease until she found Meningitis Now

Mike fell ill with meningococcal meningitis in September 2018. Despite devastating after-effects he is now rebuilding his life.

Paul thought that his symptoms were the flu, but when he woke up in intensive care after three days, he discovered that his illness had been much worse