News & Stories
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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
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Stories
Shaun's story
Susan’s son Shaun, 27, was poorly over Christmas 2007 and deteriorated in the New Year. He had contracted pneumococcal meningitis and the family were soon faced with the agonising decision to turn the young dad’s life support off. Susan, from Bradford in West Yorkshire, tells their story here
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Stories
Sharon's story
To celebrate starting to feel better and to acknowledge all the support her partner had given after recovering from viral meningitis Sharon married her partner Neil
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Stories
Sahib's story
Mandip's son Sahib was just 11 months old when, for the first time in his life, he refused his milk. Mandip left it until the next day but then she noticed other symptoms – grunting, a glazed expression, an empty nappy...
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Stories
Katie-Louise's story
Roisin’s baby daughter Katie-Louise fell ill at just four weeks with Group B strep meningitis, leaving her with severe after-effects. The family spent a precious four months with her before the disease proved too much for her little body and they faced the agonising decision to turn her life support off
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Stories
Stacy M’s story
Forty-year-old Stacy from Crawley in West Sussex fell ill in November 2018. She had a range of flu-like symptoms but when she started falling in and out of consciousness she was rushed straight to hospital. Thankfully Stacy pulled through but the disease still has a big impact on her, as she recounts here