Meningitis stories

Once the figurehead of the family, Simon now lives with life-changing after-effects of bacterial meningitis - including severe memory loss, mobility issues and hearing loss

Georgia contracted bacterial meningitis at two years old, Georgia is now 15 and has bilateral cochlear implants

The consultant came in to deliver the blow that Keivagh had a bacterial strain of meningitis. Our world stopped.

43 year old mum of one Linsay from Edinburgh, contracted meningitis last year. Here she recalls what happened and how she is learning to live with the after effects of meningitis.

In November 2011 Trevor was 61 when he began suffering with what he thought was a migraine. When his symptoms got worse, he was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with viral meningitis.

Helen fell desperately ill with the brain bug and it initially left her unable to walk and facing a long recovery period. But the youngster has battled her way back to full health.

Eighteen-year-old student Harriet had been feeling ill for a while but when she collapsed whilst going for a drink of water it was time to call an ambulance.

In August 2007, Laura was unable to wake her 15-week-old daughter Jessica for her morning feed. Sensing something was seriously wrong; Laura acted quickly and took her to see a doctor straight away. Jessica was later diagnosed with bacterial meningitis

When she was six-weeks-old Lauren had meningitis, which left her with brain damage, hearing loss in one ear and cerebral palsy, affecting her left arm and leg, and creating balance difficulties.

In September 2012, Sarah and John's son, Noah, fell ill. Crying, vomiting and running a temperature, Sarah’s parental instincts told her something was seriously wrong with her baby. It took multiple hospital visits before doctors finally diagnosed Noah.

Noah, 7, contracted meningitis when he was just 16 months old. The disease left him fighting for his life. Thankfully, Noah won his battle, but as a cruel reminder of the pain his family had to endure, meningitis left him profoundly deaf

Little Callum was a fit and healthy baby until at nine months old he contracted a deadly illness. His parents Sally and Rob feared the worst when Callum was rushed to hospital after the sudden onset of bacterial meningitis.

A Brighton couple, who in April 2013 watched marathon runners on the sea front from hospital whilst their son fought back from meningitis, will compete in the same race in 2014.

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.

Rory fell ill with meningitis on November 25, 2007, and was fighting for life in hospital when he was also struck down with haemolytic-uremic syndrome - a rare but severe condition which causes kidney failure.

Life for the Friedli family changed dramatically in 2007 when dad, Andy, contracted viral meningitis. The pain and trauma was felt by the whole family – especially daughter Nicola, three, who was frightened her daddy may die.