Meningitis stories

After contracting meningococcal septicaemia as a 2-year-old, Xavier, now 22, has been left with severe after-effects. Mum Lynn 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

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

Holly was on her way to Norway for work when she started feeling unwell at the airport. Deemed unfit to fly, her symptoms worsened until she was rushed to hospital with a tell-tale rash

Meningococcal meningitis has left Paul profoundly deaf and with other lifelong after-effects. He tells his story here.

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

Twenty-four-year-old Nick, from Brixton in London, fell ill last summer with meningococcal meningitis. Nick is taking on the London Vitality 10K for us on Monday 27 May

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

Now an adult, Sian was just two years old when she contracted meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia. Luckily, her mum recognised her symptoms from one of our leaflets

Emily was just 6 weeks old when she was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis - but not until she and mum Ellie had gone away for the weekend

Living alone, Robert was lucky to be found after collapsing at home. Once admitted to hospital and placed in a coma, his condition deteriorated; 11 months on he is still suffering from after-effects

After contracting meningococcal septicaemia as a baby, Nicole has been left unable to do anything for herself. Mum Linda shares their story

Having recovered from meningococcal septicaemia aged 2, Luke - now 21 - is raising money and awareness of meningitis

Molly shares a heartbreaking tribute to her little sister Nancy, who was just 15 when she tragically lost her life to MenW in 2015

A year after an inquest ruled that Layla-Rose's death could have been avoided, mum Kirsty shares her story

Now 5 years old, Travis was 2 when he became very poorly with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, and now suffers after-effects. Mum Natalie tells his story

Christine thought that she was coming down with the flu shortly after the Millennium, but lost consciousness after going to bed

Since losing her legs to meningococcal septicaemia, Rachael has been steadily regaining her sense of purpose and identity with the help of music

Madeleine was only given a 50/50 chance of survival when she broke out in a rash aged 2 years old. Mum Lisa tells her story

Joanna was not expected to survive when she contracted meningitis and septicaemia; luckily she pulled through, but the disease has left her with lifelong after-effects