News & Stories
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Stories
Rebecca M’s story
Rebecca was nearly 5 when she fell ill in 1987. What started with a sore throat and being sick gradually developed until she became very stiff and couldn't make her chin touch her chest. 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
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Stories
Mathew's story
Promising rugby player Mathew Johnstone is learning how to walk again after the brain bug nearly killed him just days after his 17th birthday
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Stories
Oli H’s story
Baby Oli was unsettled and hot, but parents Abi and Tom were not unduly worried initially. However, his condition continued to deteriorate and a second visit to A and E saw him rushed into the Resus area
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Stories
Holly W’s story
Holly started to feel ill in February this year with a headache. Her symptoms developed to include neck pain, vomiting, a skin rash, ataxia and photophobia
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Stories
Leo S' meningitis story
Leo was just 1 when he developed flu like symptoms which, by the evening, had developed into a non-disappearing rash. He was rushed to hospital where he spent the next month
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Stories
Ben P's meningitis story
Former actor, now novelist and writer, Ben was a drama student when he became ill with what he first thought was a nasty cold. But he felt much worse very quickly and when patchy red spots appeared his then girlfriend, Emma, decided it was time to get medical help – an act Ben is convinced saved his life
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Stories
Coby H's story
Keely’s one-year-old son Coby seemed to be coming down with a cold, but very quickly became worse and was rushed to hospital. Despite the speed of treatment he died from meningitis the following day
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Stories
Ruby and Tracy's story
Tracy’s 16-year-old daughter Ruby became ill with meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia in May this year, but thankfully seems to be making a good recovery
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Stories
Sarah H's story
Sarah thought she had a migraine, with photophobia and neck stiffness. Seeking better pain relief she phoned 111, who called for an ambulance
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Stories
Stacey's story
Stacey, now 39, fell ill with viral meningitis when she was 18
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Stories
Kerri's story
Kerri had what she thought was a cold, but as she began to feel worse she was taken into hospital, where tests showed she had viral meningitis
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Stories
Ashley C's story
Ashley was 33 when she fell ill with viral meningitis about a year ago. What started as a severe headache developed into exhaustion, before she collapsed