Meningitis stories

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

24 year-old Charlotte still suffers with after-effects of exhaustion nearly a year after being diagnosed with viral meningitis, which caused her to feel the most ill that she'd ever felt

It's not the physical symptoms that Ashleigh remembers the most of in the hours before her diagnosis of bacterial MenB meningitis, but her change in behaviour

With support from Believe & Achieve, Rachel has a renewed sense of determination and confidence, after struggling with long-term after-effects of viral meningitis since 2017

Ben contracted bacterial meningitis when he was 15. Fortunately, he received medical care quickly as his condition deteriorated and he continues to recover well

Chenise thought baby Harry was suffering from a tummy ache. But when he became unresponsive that afternoon and developed a slight rash, she quickly found herself running from an ambulance into A&E

51-year-old David, from Glasgow, had been suffering with severe earache, leading to headaches and vomiting before a lumbar puncture confirmed bacterial meningitis