Meningitis stories

Nicola’s dad Graham contracted meningitis and septicaemia in January 15 years ago. It left him with life-changing after-effects. She recounts their story here

Smiley eight-month-old Taylor Marshall’s life changed dramatically when he fell ill with meningococcal group w meningitis and septicaemia in April

When seven-year-old Isabelle, of Derby, came home from school feeling under the weather, her parents thought she was suffering from a stomach bug

Dean Lahan, 18, of Stockport, lost his right leg and most of his fingers when he contracted meningococcal meningitis in 1999, aged just 18 months old

In February 2015, Charlotte Hannibal, now 19, had just returned to university after visiting her family when she suffered a number of flu-like symptoms

Charlotte Stuart, 20 of Tunbridge Wells, was 19 and studying Architecture at the University of Cambridge when she was diagnosed with meningococcal group W (Men W)

When her baby girl came down with a soaring temperature, quick-thinking mother, Becky Preece of Shrewsbury, trusted her instincts and phoned for help

Lillie Mai, of Maryport in Cumbria, was a healthy and happy 14-week-old when she developed a runny nose and got the shivers. There were no obvious signs of meningitis and first-time mum Belinda thought she’d just come down with the cold she’d had the week

Out of the blue, the 16-year-old’s life changed irrevocably. Sophia contracted meningococcal septicaemia.

It was just three days before Ellie Mae’s first birthday when her mother, Kelly, noticed a small purple bruise on her forehead.

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.

Louie was just five months old when he contracted meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia in January 2012. He lost both legs as a result, and recently took his first steps in prosthetic limbs.

Riley, now six, contracted meningitis and septicaemia aged one, which left him with multiple amputations and scarring. Here his mum, Bev, tells his story

In December 2010, Bahman Jamalaldini thought he was coming down with a cold. On December 21 he went to bed early and in the early hours of the morning he was vomiting, had diarrhoea, he felt cold and had muscle and joint pain

Lyndon is a Young Ambassador for Meningitis Now. He lost his legs, part of his right arm and the tips of the fingers on his other hand when he contracted meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia when eight and a half months old.

In March 2013, Noah, Gareth Stephenson’s eight month old son, started to become unwell with lethargy and sickness. Gareth could never have imagined the devastation that would follow, as Noah was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia resu

In March 2012 Tommy Brown contracted the B strain of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia. The disease was so ferocious and widespread that he was given only a 5 per cent chance of survival. He defied the odds, but was left with multiple amputations

Determined Charlotte is a little miracle after meningitis almost took her young life in December 2010. Despite losing all four limbs to meningococcal septicaemia, she's facing every challenge head on and is an inspiration to her parents Jenny and Alex

Matt fell ill with meningococcal septicaemia at the age of 20. But the keen photographer fought back to overcome his after-effects of amputations and focus on a career in his chosen field

When Michelle Atkinson started feeling ill at work she thought it was probably flu. But the Bristol mother’s symptoms quickly worsened, leaving her life in danger