Meningitis stories

Alice had been given the MenACWY vaccine, but didn't recognise the symptoms. Luckily, she called her mum, who got her to hospital in time to be treated for meningitis and septicaemia

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just hours after her arrival, baby Amelia seemed to be struggling to breathe, alerting doctors to something seriously wrong. Mum Lauren tells their 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

Baby Norah is only a few months old, but has already fought meningitis twice in her short life. Mum Lisa tells her 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

Laura's father, who lives in Alicante, has been left paralysed from the neck down after contracting meningitis and septicaemia over two years ago

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

Thanks to her dad's quick thinking, 7-year-old Kaylie quickly got the treatment she needed. Kaylie's after-effects have made things tough, but she is determined to fight and live a happy life