Meningitis stories

Janice can’t remember much of her quick decline into severe illness before an eventual meningitis diagnosis

Diana contracted meningococcal meningitis in her mid 20s, leading to lower leg amputations of both legs and all the fingers on her right hand

Kirsten was with her friend Alice throughout her meningitis experience in hospital and afterwards, we are grateful for the opportunity for Kirstin to tell Alice's story from her perspective

Jon contracted meningitis in 2018 whilst living and working in India, he recounts his story here

In the middle of the covid pandemic, 19-year-old Alice became ill and increasingly worse, fortunately the intervention of friends and family meant that an ambulance was called.

Helen had viral meningitis and was in hospital for two weeks, it has left her to this day with after-effects

At four-weeks-old Amelia became unwell, after treatment and extensiove tests it was confirme that she had contracted E-coli meningitis

Jake contracted pneumococcal meningitis in 2022 which left him with profound deafness in both ears requiring cochlear implants

Ten years ago Jasmine contracted meningitis. To mark the anniversary, she’s braving the shave for Meningitis Now

Rebecca was nearly 5 when she fell ill in 1987, Fortunately, her mum remembered seeing one of our awareness posters at the local GP surgery, which made her question an incorrect diagnosis and helped save Rebecca’s life

Holly from Weston super Mare in Somerset, went to hospital, where she spent a month while doctors investigated her meningitis

Diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia as a baby, Leo has been left with learning difficulties, and still faces further operations on his legs 17 years later

After daughter Ruby's diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, nurse Tracy has shared her tips for improving bowel health - something she is certain has helped Ruby's recovery

Sarah thought she had a migraine, but as tests showed the 26-year-old midwife had contracted meningococcal meningitis

Now 39, Stacey was diagnosed with viral meningitis at 18 after her mum rushed her to A&E with a severe headache, sickness and aching all over her body

Kerri has had viral meningitis three times now, and is learning to live with the after-effects - both on her and her family

Ashley fell ill with viral meningitis about a year ago - a time that left her feeling incredibly alone as doctors weren't able to give her much information about what was happening to her

After viral meningitis left her housebound and dependent on a wheelchair, Kiri is keen for more resources to go into understanding and treating post-viral after-effects

Having recently returned home from hospital, Sammi is keen to raise awareness of bacterial meningitis and how a rash doesn't always appear

Mum Vicky couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong when baby Oscar cried like he'd never cried before, and rushed him to hospital - where he stayed for four weeks battling meningococcal meningitis