News & Stories
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Stories
Mike M's story
Seventy-two-year-old Mike, from Biggin Hill in Kent, fell ill with meningococcal meningitis in September last year. He had been feeling a bit weary during the day and woke up six days later in intensive care. Although his health had been declining over the year he had a decent run in the woods with his dog the day before
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Stories
Niamh R's story
After Sophie took baby daughter Niamh back to hospital for a third time in April this year, doctors finally diagnosed meningitis. Now Sophie, from Leek in Staffordshire, wants to warn other parents not to wait for a rash when their children fall ill
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Stories
Paul C's story
It started with what he thought was symptoms of flu, but after blacking out Paul, from Brackley in Northants, woke up three days later in intensive care having been diagnosed with meningitis
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Stories
Lucy W's story
Lucy was in so much pain she knew something wasn’t right. In desperation, she sent a plea for help to her family’s WhatsApp group – hoping someone would come to her rescue
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Stories
Kaylie's story
Kaylie Knight from Chelmsford never felt like the same child again after contracting meningitis as a seven-year-old. Eighteen years on, she admits life has been tough – but has found love and is looking forward to starting a family of her own one day
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Stories
Alice B's story
Alice was a second year student at Portsmouth university when she woke up with what she first thought was a hangover. Luckily she decided to call her mum when she didn’t start to feel any better because what she actually had was meningitis
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Stories
Samantha N's story
Thirty-nine-year-old Samantha from Leybourne in Kent thought she had been overdoing it when she felt dizzy and sick. But as her symptoms mounted up to include lower back ache, a severe headache and loss of control of her right leg, she knew it was time to see a doctor
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Stories
Jude H's story
Baby Jude was just eight days old when he was admitted to hospital. Meningitis left him with severe and lifelong after-effects, but the family is beyond grateful that he survived and has chosen to embrace life fully
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Stories
Rita and Nancy's story
It was September 2016 and Rachael Holgate from Darlington should have been celebrating the birth of her new twin girls. Instead, she had an agonising wait to see if the girls would pull through after being diagnosed with viral meningitis
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Stories
Xavier's story
Lynn’s 2-year-old son Xavier became ill with what turned out to be meningococcal septicaemia in January 1999. After a battle he survived, but the disease left him with severe and life-changing after-effects
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Stories
Joe B's story
Cherelle and Chris’ 5-month-old son Joe had a very high temperature and was vomiting. Cherelle knew something was seriously wrong with him and stood her ground with doctors to get tests done
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Stories
Sadie's story
Laura and John’s young twin daughter Sadie had just started nursery and was picking up lots of bugs, so her parents weren’t initially too worried when she became ill. But as her condition deteriorated they quickly sought medical advice