Meningitis stories

Nicola would never have guessed that baby son Jorge was as ill as he was when he went off his food; luckily a trip to the GP meant that he was quickly diagnosed

Thain was given just hours to live by the time he was diagnosed with viral and bacterial meningitis. Luckily, he pulled through but has been left with after-effects, as mum Jennifer tells us

Joanne had been poorly for a few days, but when she became floppy and unresponsive, mum Jenny knew something was seriously wrong

Leo's only symptom was rapid breathing, but luckily he was diagnosed and treated quickly - before he'd even left the hospital after birth

A year after an inquest ruled that Layla-Rose's death could have been avoided, mum Kirsty shares her story

Just hours after her arrival, baby Amelia seemed to be struggling to breathe, alerting doctors to something seriously wrong. Mum Lauren tells their story

Baby Harry was on holiday in Menorca with his family when he became seriously ill, fighting for his life. Mum Lauren tells their story

Just a baby when she contracted bacterial meningitis, Caitlin has grown up with mental health and communication difficulties, but is doing her best to use her experience to make a difference

Now 5 years old, Travis was 2 when he became very poorly with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, and now suffers after-effects. Mum Natalie tells his story

Baby Norah is only a few months old, but has already fought meningitis twice in her short life. Mum Lisa tells her story

The future is unclear for baby Alice, who has been left with an acquired brain injury following Group B strep, but she continues to develop and amaze her family

Declan cried straight away when he was born, but it was a strange cry that prompted medical staff to test for - and diagnose - bacterial meningitis

Despite being left with lifelong after-effects of TB meningitis, Riley doesn't let anything hold him back

Riley had been diagnosed with a complex urine infection, but when he didn't improve, further tests revealed bacterial meningitis

Baby Lennon had been happy and content the night before he became seriously ill with pneumococcal meningitis and sepsis. Mum Laura tells his story

Erin was six weeks old when mum Charlotte noticed that her usually calm baby was unsettled with a high temperature

Mum Leonie had spent just 16 days with newborn George before she noticed that something wasn't right. Before long, George was fighting for his life

A high temperature and strange grunting noise while he slept alerted Louise that her son Ashley was unwell, prompting her to call 111 before taking him to A&E

Logan was 5 months old when he started displaying some signs of meningitis just after the New Year

When Grace was 9 days old, she contracted a rare form of meningitis that has resulted in her needing a shunt for the rest of her life

When Myles was just 2 weeks old he developed a high-pitched cry and temperature. Luckily, mum Michelle recognised the signs and called 111

Baby Logan was seven weeks old when he became unwell with a strange cry. Mum Kirsten tells their story

Kieran (in the middle of the photo) was just 16 weeks old when he was diagnosed with Men B, leaving him with after-effects into his teens. Mum Deborah tells their story

Laura became worried when baby Harry refused to feed and became lethargic and hot. As his symptoms developed and worsened, he was rushed to hospital, where viral meningitis was diagnosed

Barnaby, now 10 years old, was just 6 months when he was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. Mum Nicola tells their story

Elena was just days old when she was hospitalised with a high temperature, vomiting and what seemed like endless seizures. Luckily, she pulled through and has gone on to reach her milestones. Mum Emma tells their story

Within a couple of hours, Luca had gone from his usual bouncy self to hot and shivery. Mum Melissa tells their story

Alex was just 2 years old when he contracted meningococcal septicaemia in 1996. Mum Lisa tells their story

Clare thought that baby Niamh had picked up the cold that the whole family had suffered from, but her symptoms soon worsened as viral meningitis took a hold

When Jenny's 18-day-old daughter Hollie became poorly, doctors sent her straight to hospital before diagnosing viral meningitis

Mason had been a normal, lively 11-month-old the morning of the day he became ill, but he quickly deteriorated as pneumococcal meningitis took a hold

Sarah Lockey, our new Community Fundraiser for the North of England, holds our cause very close to her heart as her daughter Tilly contracted the disease at 15 months old. Here she shares their heart-breaking, yet inspirational story

We thank our lucky stars every single day that the outcome was good and we are so grateful to all the wonderful medical staff who cared for him - and us - both times

It was a traumatic experience seeing my child so poorly, and caused me lots of anxiety. As a family, we are very nervous now when he gets ill

In the time we were there she had two blood transfusions and went into cardiac arrest six times before they told me they could do no more to save my baby

The doctor explained that they were doing everything they could to keep Arran alive but that it might be at the expense of his hands and arms or feet and legs.

Young Tyler had a difficult start in life and was diagnosed with meningitis at just a couple of days old, leaving him with severe autism and needing 24-hour care

Emma’s five day old son Ellis had no clear symptoms of meningitis but was clearly not right. It soon became obvious that he was seriously ill.

Clara's mum Claire tells the heartbreaking story behind our special 'Clara and Friends' Christmas card

I'm always scared that she could get unwell with meningitis again.

I’m very lucky because I survived pneumococcal meningitis in 2015

Emily from Northamptonshire had no idea that baby Polly's bad mood was an early symptom of meningitis. Thankfully she got medical help and thankfully she made a full recovery

Zoe’s son Luke, from Telford in Shropshire, has suffered twice from meningitis – when he was 10-months-old in 2002 and again when he was 4 four years old. Fortunately he has survived both times although the disease has left him with after-effects, as Zoe

Claire, from Walthamstow, is a strong supporter of vaccines to fight meningitis. She tells her son Felix’s story, which explains why

Abbie’s five-week-old son Leo, from Weymouth in Dorset, was a sickly baby, which was why the family did not immediately recognise how poorly he was, with what turned out to be viral meningitis, here is what happened

Two years ago Meghann’s 15-week-old daughter Holly-May, from Chorley in Lancashire, became unwell. She had a high pitched shriek, didn’t want to be touched and a temperature of over 40 degrees

Emma Cowey's son Jamie woke up feeling fine but died within 24 hours of meningitis. Here she tells how her darling baby boy fell victim to the killer disease.

Here Holly tells how both she and her daughter Brooke battled meningitis.

Some people are lucky enough to survive meningitis, but even then the effects can be long-lasting, for both the patient and their family and friends. Philipa Coughlan knows all too well the horror of this disease.

Elliott fell ill at just seven weeks old, when a rash covered his body in just four minutes. The drama unfolded on the day of his mum Louisa's work Christmas party. She believes that had she not checked on him after the party then he might have been dead.

Little Owain was just 15-months-old when he fell ill, a "horrific" experience which has prompted his family to fundraise for Meningitis Now.

Little Harmonie-Rose , from Bath, has captured the heart of everyone she meets as she battles back from meningitis. Her parents, Freya and Ross, tell her story.

In February this year, Laura B noticed that her baby son Lewis was crying differently to normal. Sensing something was wrong, she took him to her GP. He was eventually diagnosed with viral meningitis.

Louise’s son, Cavan, was only a few months old when he became unwell in April 2012. He was later diagnosed with type b meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia.

In March 2012, Leila gave birth to her son Frazer. Seven days later, he contracted viral meningitis.

Little Ava grew increasingly ill and kept vomiting. Her mum trusted her instincts and got her to hospital. She spent weeks battling the disease with medical help. Sadly, she lost her toes, but is now doing well and dancing

Kayleigh Bussey knew something was wrong when her daughter Lucie refused a feed. As her daughter became more and more ill she faced every parent's worst nightmare, her daughter had meningitis.

In December 2010 Bev Frank, from Leeds, was looking forward to Christmas with her children. Then, her youngest son, Micheal, contracted meningococcal meningitis and their lives were turned upside down.

Little Amelia was five-months-old when she fell ill in February 2010. She had a high temperature and was vomiting her feeds but seemed happy in herself so we thought she was just teething. Her big brother Patrick, four, had been a bit sniffly too.

Smiling toddler Layton died suddenly from meningitis on October 27, 2009, aged 16 months.

In April 2008, nine-month-old Paige was diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis, which she has thankfully overcome. Doctors said it was bad luck that she should fall so desperately ill as she'd had the pneumococcal vaccine. But her parents believe luck was

Brave Marshall fell ill with meningitis just days after his first birthday, causing him to lose both his hands and legs to septicaemia. His family and friends have rallied round to raise tens of thousands of pounds to fund prosthetic limbs.

When Amanda Keys' son Harry became ill when he was just 11 days old she was told it was probably just colic. It wasn't, Harry was seriously ill with meningitis.

On December 10, 2006, Russell and Suzanne Elliott had been out for the day and little baby Liam had his usual sleep in the car on the way home, so he was full of energy by the time the family got back home that evening.

Quentin and Surj Stott's story is sadly one of many tragedies of losing a loved one to meningitis. They were a family of five, who suddenly became four with the loss of Dylan.

When Louise gave birth to daughter Heather five weeks early she wasn't expecting to spend the next week in hospital as the little tot fought for her life with a deadly strain of meningitis.

Jodie contacted us to share her story, which she has written as part of her health and social care course at college. Here's what she learnt about how ill she was at the age of just six months old.