Meningitis stories

After initially thinking that she had swallowed a battery, doctors were soon treating Evie for both bacterial and viral meningitis after her temperature soared and she became very confused

Ember contracted bacterial meningitis shortly after she was born. She was taken to hospital but lost her battle with the disease just days later

Meningitis Now Trustee Rod Adlington recounts the heartbreaking events leading to the tragic loss of his son Barney to meningitis in 2005

When Jill’s newborn baby fell ill in July last year she was told it was “just viral meningitis”. Initially relieved, she started reading up on it and realised there was no “just” about it.

Katie thought that there was more to her daughter's illness than just chicken pox; luckily, she trusted her instincts, as Tilly had contracted deadly meningococcal septicaemia

Corey was 20 months old when he became seriously ill with pneumococcal and meningococcal meningitis. Now 16, he has attended a number of our support events

Lauren thought that George had picked up a cold, but his condition deteriorated rapidly overnight and he was rushed into High Dependency

Amanda thought son Patrick had chicken pox after having his childhood vaccinations, but as his condition worsened he was diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia

Sahib's mother knew something wasn't right with her 11 month old son. She took him to the hospital where meningococcal MenC meningitis was diagnosed

Roisin never thought for a second that she would have to make the heart-breaking decision to turn off her daughter's life support after she contracted Group B strep

Alfie was just six weeks old when he contracted deadly MenB. Mum Shannon tells their story

Mum Penny had no choice but to watch helplessly as her daughter Parker was placed in a coma as she battled bacterial meningitis

Jude was 8 days old when he was rushed to hospital with Group B strep meningitis. Nine years on, mum Jessica shares their experience and explains the developing after-effects that Jude has been left with

Rachael was overjoyed to bring her twin baby girls home, but when a midwife picked up Nancy's high temperature it wasn't long before both girls were in PICU, fighting for their lives

Baby Joe spent eight weeks in hospital after being diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis, and has been left with a range of complex after-effects. Mum Cherelle tells their story

By the time Emily was admitted to hospital for the third time, she only had a 10% chance of survival. Mum Bex recounts her harrowing experience

After an initial diagnosis of a viral infection, doctors then found Bea to be suffering from deadly pneumococcal meningitis. Mum Louisa shares their terrifying story

Within the space of an hour, Leo had gone from being a giggly baby boy to seriously ill, prompting parents Georgia and Jack to call quickly for medical help

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

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