Meningitis stories

What started as a common cold for Kieran quickly became something much more serious - pneumococcal meningitis. Although the initial illness has passed, Kieran and his family have been left fighting a seemingly never-ending battle with after-effects

After undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour, Colin has been left with a complication that has resulted in him contracting bacterial pneumococcal meningitis once, and viral meningitis five times

Aged 41, Natalia suffered a stroke caused by bacterial pneumococcal meningitis, which left her with after-effects for over a year

Rhys is a "healthy, sociable 19-year-old" - but after contracting pneumococcal meningitis as a baby, the outcome could have been very different, as mum Emma tells us

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

Since contracting pneumococcal meningitis as a baby, Sophia has been left with complex and life-long after-effects; but as mum Joanna explains, these do not define her

Connie was feverish and lethargic, but when her fontanelle started bulging, her parents knew they had to get help - quickly

After being diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis and an abscess on his brain, the future for baby Zachary was looking uncertain. Thankfully, he pulled through but faces regular reviews and antibiotics

Maria thought her headache was a result of treatment for an existing medical condition, but as her symptoms worsened she knew something was wrong

Corey was 20 months old when he became seriously ill with pneumococcal and meningococcal meningitis. Now 16, he has attended a number of our support events

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

Shaun had a cold over Christmas, which was later found to be pneumococcal meningitis. He sadly passed away a few days later. His family wants people to know that #AdultsGetItToo

When Holly became unwell, mum Rachel recognised some of the signs and symptoms from when she had had bacterial meningitis before

After Sophie took baby daughter Niamh back to hospital for a third time in April this year, doctors finally diagnosed meningitis.

Baby Joe spent eight weeks in hospital after being diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis, and has been left with a range of complex after-effects. Mum Cherelle tells their story

Laura and John weren't initially concerned when Sadie picked up an ear infection, but when her temperature wouldn't come down and she started vomiting they knew something was wrong

Denise had been feeling unwell for a few months, but her headache suddenly got so severe that she ended up in a coma, fighting for her life

After an initial diagnosis of a viral infection, doctors then found Bea to be suffering from deadly pneumococcal meningitis. Mum Louisa shares their terrifying story

Paul Hodgson from Darlington in County Durham contracted meningitis as a baby, more than fifty years ago.

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