Meningitis stories

Our Community Ambassador Ian shares the devastating story of losing his grandson Charlie to pneumococcal meningitis

In 1974, when the medical landscape was very different to today, Vera and Rob were told that their young son Ian's life support had been turned off after a short battle with meningococcal septicaemia

Margaret shares the heartbreaking story of her nephew Calum, who passed away aged 12 having just returned to school after a flu virus

When Virginia's son Jamie became unwell in 1988, doctors missed the signs of meningitis. As he deteriorated, he was rushed to hospital, but tragically passed away

Anita's dad Barry was 74 when he suddenly became ill with meningococcal septicaemia, leaving him with deafness, amputations, limited vision and paralysis

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

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

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

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

Meningitis can strike and kill quickly, Anthony tragically lost his life to meningococcal septicaemia the day after the first symptoms appeared

Carol tragically lost her three-year-old daughter Akira to meningitis within 24-hours of the signs and symptoms appearing.

Barry contracted Meningococcal meningitis in 2008. Sadly, he passed away just weeks before he was due to get married.

Ethan had viral meningitis that had attacked his heart muscle, therefore his heart was unable to work properly.

Pippa struggled to feed and her breathing became increasingly noisy, sadly, she had contracted group b strep meningitis

Results came back to show Luke had ecoli meningitis in his brain and spinal fluid, which caused his body to be rife with infection.

Nurse Sharon raced round to her friend’s house when she called to say she was worried about her son Jayden, who had been taken ill. Despite taking him straight to hospital his meningitis proved too much for him to fight though, and he sadly died

Anna’s Dad was active, fit and healthy before he was struck down suddenly by meningitis. Even now, she finds it difficult to believe he’s gone. She tells their story here

Loving father and grandfather, Gaylord tragically died of pneumococcal meningitis and septicaemia in May.

Balloons were released to bid a final farewell to 4-year-old Lillia, who had been battling a catalogue of health problems since she fell ill with meningitis as a baby