Meningitis stories

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.

Tragic toddler Jazmin was diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia on 17 November and sadly just seven hours later she lost her life and passed away at Blackburn General Hospital, surrounded by her loving family

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

Meningitis had already taken hold of the dinosaur-loving Henry and his parents had to face the awful decision to turn his ventilator off. Dad Mark tells their story.

On Sunday Fleur Rose was healthy and happy. By Monday night she was gone. Mum Liz, from Bridgnorth in Shropshire, tells their tragic story here

Dedicated supporter Bobby Joseph has been busy spreading awareness about the disease and drumming up support for the vaccine petition

Julie Senior, of Redditch, saw her life change in a flash as meningitis cruelly took her six-year-old daughter’s life within just 24 hours

Clare’s daughter Orlagh, from Leeds in West Yorkshire, woke with a very high temperature and didn't seem herself

With the second of the two evidence sessions on extending the meningococcal group B (MenB) vaccination taking place tomorrow, at which Meningitis Now will present its case, we are still hearing distressing stories where any change of heart by Government

Meningitis has struck Helen’s family twice – once with devastating consequences when it took her sister Sarah’s life and then again last year when her baby daughter Lois contracted viral meningitis at just eight days old

Vickie’s young daughter Kyra, from Feltham in Middlesex, was a beautiful, happy little girl one day but just two days later meningitis has stolen her life

Alfie fell ill with sickness and stomach pains and was initially diagnosed with a minor throat infection. But the youngster had contracted the far more serious Meningitis B

Heartbroken mum, Lora Allonby, of Cumbria, lost her baby daughter to meningococcal group B meningitis and septicaemia when she was just five days old

Beren, 6, from Pontypridd, was usually full of energy, but after going swimming he became lethargic and complained of a headache

Laura’s sister Michelle, from Sunderland, fell ill at the age of 11 and sadly lost her life to meningitis. Laura urges everyone to learn the signs and symptoms in memory of her sister.

Andy was a fit and active 63-year-old from Ilkeston

Maureen’s best friend Jenna became ill and sadly died within two days from bacterial meningitis five years ago. There’s not a day that Maureen doesn’t miss her

Melanie believed her one-year-old daughter, Demi-Lee, had caught flu when she began to develop a temperature and she seemed sleepy, however, during the night, Demi-Lee began to develop a rash

Meningitis stole young Sam’s life in just four-and-a-half hours. Mum Kat, from Lincoln, recounts their sad story

Devastated mum Jade, 21, of Witham in Essex, held the hand of her precious angel Amelia as she died from meningitis. She tells their sad story here

When 17 year old Shelby from Bolton, went to babysit her brother, nothing could have prepared her for the devastating events that would follow

Steve McCourt made the hardest decision of his life when wife, Joanne, 53, was put on life support after contracting bacterial meningitis on 27th January 2015

Zara Alam was a happy and active 13-month-old when she was cruelly taken from her loving parents within 24 hours of contracting meningitis

18-year-old Ollie Towler Jones was enjoying one of his favourite events of the year when he was suddenly struck down by meningococcal group W (menW)

Teygan Sugrue was embarking on a new adventure; making new friends and studying his favourite language, when he was cruelly struck down by meningitis

Kayleigh Duncan, 23, of Essex, was celebrating the birth of her baby sister, Rihanna, a time which should have bought joy and celebration to all her family

Nurse Elizabeth had what she thought was a bad migraine. But the 21-year-old had contracted meningitis and was found dead in the nurse’s home five days later. Father Mike tells her sad story

19-year-old Teaching Assistant, Emily Styles, had her whole life ahead of her when she was suddenly struck down with meningococcal meningitis on New Year’s Eve 2013

Devastated mother, Hayley Smith of Coventry, lost hear beautiful daughter, Ava, just days after she contracted bacterial meningitis in 2014

Eva contracted meningitis on the 24 January 2015 when she was 22 days old, and sadly passed away six days later on 31 January 2015.

Rebecca’s son Duke, of Leyland in Lancashire, woke up happy and smiling and waiting for his morning cuddle. He showed no signs of illness during the day but that night his mother noticed a rash on his body

Baby Rubie Fisher was just six weeks old when bacterial meningitis stole her short life

In 2010, Aaron, then 32, contracted bacterial meningitis

Just days before contracting a disease that would rapidly take his life, three-year-old Joshua Bromwich was running around with his friends as normal

Brave youngster Shae, aged 3, lost his battle to meningitis B and septicaemia just hours after he was rushed to hospital

Jackson fought with every inch of his being but, unfortunately, Jackson’s story doesn’t have a happy ending and he passed away in December 2009.

On 25th March 2015, Evan from Plymouth, contracted Meningitis B and Septicaemia and sadly passed away just hours later

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.

Kelly Crisp and Warren Morgan, from Hertfordhire, have been dedicated to fundraising after the devastating brain bug killed their two-year-old daughter Jessica in 2005.

Bereaved Hull mum Claire Newman has been campaigning tirelessly since Liam was struck down by meningitis aged six.

Liam was a fit and healthy footballer, who fell ill with swine flu shortly after his 13th birthday. It is thought the virus weakened his immune system and meant he was unable to battle the meningitis bug. His parents Andy and Georgina have raised over £50

Linda Richardson had been out Christmas shopping with her daughter Lisa. The next day the teenager fell ill with meningitis.

Little Ruby Burrell was just 21-months-old when she was struck down by meningitis and died within hours of showing any symptoms.

When Pauline Egan's son fell ill with meningitis his condition deteriorated fast.

Community Ambassador Jodie lost her daughter Mariah from meningococcal meningitis when she was just 13 months old.

Jackie Hill's day started like any other but when her daughter Corrine fell ill she had no idea how it would affect her, Corrine's sister Jodee and the rest of the family.

When student Saleem Akintoye spent the day in bed with a hangover, no one suspected he was about to die from meningitis

Oscar was ill and doctors failed to initially diagnose him with meningitis. He tragically passed away. Oscar's mum Amy tells her story and wants people to trust their instincts if they suspect meningitis.

Nikki Busby was looking forward to her son Kadyn's first Christmas when the tot was struck down with meningitis. Here heartbroken Nikki shares her story

Lucie Dunbar was overjoyed when she gave birth to daughter Ella. But her little one fell ill with Group B streptococcal meningitis shortly after coming home. Here Lucie tells Ella's story

Gillian Redman was expecting her second child when she was struck down with meningitis. Here her parents Alice and Bryan Austin describe how the disease tragically robbed them of their daughter and granddaughter

David Fay had been suffering from flu-like symptoms before he was rushed to hospital at the end of April, 2010

Steve Dayman can still remember the moment his wife rang him to say their infant son Spencer was ill. More than 32 years later Steve is still fighting to stop more lives being devastated by meningitis.

In early 2001 the lives of two sets of families in Chester took on a cruel and tragic parallel when their teenage children, who had grown up together, were both killed by meningococcal disease

Teacher Kevin Leaver died from meningococcal septicaemia just hours after being admitted to hospital. Here his wife Lesley tells his story

Wendy MacDonald, from Salisbury, was happily married to her husband Duncan for almost nine years when he started having flu-like symptoms in January 2012. Wendy could never have imagined the devastation that would follow.

Emma and her parents were looking forward to taking 10-month-old George on his first holiday abroad. But their trip turned into a nightmare when George became ill and sadly died soon after they arrived in Tunisia

After a brave fight, 10-year-old Haydn sadly died from bacterial meningitis in June 2011. His mum, Jeanette, from Salisbury, tells their story

Tracey’s 15-year-old daughter Sarah, from Skegness in Lincolnshire, had a headache for three days before she was admitted to hospital.

Tara’s seven-month-old daughter Amelia Jane Luisa Winfield, from Horsham in West Sussex, had cold-like symptoms, a runny nose, temperature and a loss of appetite. Her GP suggested Nurofen but the symptoms persisted and, when a rash started to appear, Amel

I met Tess at university – I was very nervous on my first day, I didn’t know anybody else on my course and one of my biggest worries was settling in somewhere completely new.

Maz Nolan's partner Clare Streeter tells of how meningitis and septicaemia took Maz within hours. Now she wants to do all she can to raise awareness and tell people not to wait for a rash.

The Dancy family were enjoying a summer break when little Alicja fell ill with a deadly strain of meningococcal septicaemia.

When Andrew Hession fell ill his family thought it was due to the diabetes he'd suffered from since he was a child. But the 21-year-old died within hours from meningitis.

Daniel Halford was just 18 when he died from meningitis after complaining of a headache just hours before.

Lively Grace Elizabeth Merridan died in February 2010 from meningoencephalitis - an acute swelling of the brain and its lining.

Aaliyah's family were proud of their little princess and how she was overcoming being born without a hip. But, tragedy struck in 2009 when she fell ill with meningitis.

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

Toddler Georgia's death hit the headlines in August 2009 after doctors twice misdiagnosed her as having swine flu. Her parents Paul and Tasha have embarked on a fundraising mission in her memory.

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.

From the age of 14, Helen had always wanted to become a nursery nurse and worked hard to secure her qualifications. She qualified in January 2001 but in May of that year, Helen called her parents to say that she was feeling unwell.

Ben Sillwood would be at senior school now, but sadly the youngster didn't live to see his second birthday after losing his battle against pneumococcal meningitis.

Jackie and Ray Finch have raised an amazing £100,000 since their son Martin died.

Ashley was a typical fun-loving mischievous boy who filled the hearts of so many people

Parents Ron and Alison Noble tell the story of how meningitis took their beloved tot Siobhan. Now they want to raise awareness and find a vaccine to wipe out the dreaded disease.