News & Stories
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Stories
Cat's story
When Cat started uni in October 2015 she was an "extremely healthy 20-year-old who had just spent her gap year running around working various jobs abroad"; until she became seriously unwell
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Stories
Lauren and George's story
At first Lauren thought her baby son George had picked up a cold, but when his breathing became fast and laboured and he started to make groaning noises she acted immediately to get medical help
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Stories
Af's story
From feeling run down with a cold to being rushed into hospital and dying within days; Caroline says the sudden, shocking death of husband Af from meningitis aged just 40 has been hard to deal with
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Stories
Casey's story
Nicola had an instinct that her baby daughter Casey was seriously ill, despite her only symptom being a high temperature. Luckily for her she acted on it immediately and Casey was later found to have contracted meningitis
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Stories
Joshua C's story
Heather and her husband have been left with anxiety after their son Joshua recovered from bacterial meningitis – a common outcome for parents whose babies fall ill. Heather, from Holytown in Lanarkshire, told us their story
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Stories
Nicola J’s story
Forty-year-old Nicola, from Ebbw Vale, was two months pregnant when she became ill. She had a high fever but was freezing, an aversion to lights, vomiting, an awful headache, stiff neck and very achy limbs – all symptoms of meningitis. Fortunately she recovered well, despite ongoing after-effects, and her daughter Lois was born fit and well
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Stories
Patrick J's story
Amanda’s young son Patrick had just had his childhood vaccinations and her first thought was that he was reacting to these when he developed small red spots. They were then diagnosed as chicken pox, but, as Patrick’s condition deteriorated they contacted NHS Direct who advised them to take him to hospital
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Stories
Phoebe P's story
Charlotte's daughter Phoebe was fine on Friday night. But by Saturday morning she was complaining that she didn’t feel well – and things started to go downhill from here. Charlotte, from Maidstone in Kent, describes what happened next
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Stories
Jonah's story
Donna’s young son Jonah had a bulging soft spot, high fever, was off his food and drink, was screaming when being lifted or touched, couldn't look at lights and was very sleepy
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Stories
Rosie G's story
Rosie Galligan, the Red Rose England rugby international and our newly-appointed Celebrity Ambassador, saw her sporting career put temporarily on hold as she battled back from contracting meningitis
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Stories
Courtney's story
Courtney, from Oldham in Lancashire, thought she was coming down with flu or tonsillitis when she started to fall ill in January this year. But then she noticed a rash
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Stories
Gary's story
Isabel was at school in November 2017 when her mother found her 48-year-old father Gary at home, sitting on the floor and staring at the wall. She knew something was wrong and called an ambulance