My partner, Hannah Ewing, was diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis on 5 November 2024. She was placed in a medically induced coma for eight days and had to fight for her life. Thanks to the incredible team in the ICU, Hannah pulled through. But her battle didn’t end there.

She had to relearn basic skills like walking and talking and experienced severe delirium while in the High Dependency Unit (HDU). Later, she was diagnosed with PTSD due to the trauma she endured. Meningitis also caused permanent hearing loss. She is now profoundly deaf in her left ear and moderately deaf in her right.

After her first discharge from hospital, Hannah reached out to the Meningitis Research Foundation. Carol, a member of their safeguarding team, provided crucial guidance on what her follow-up care should have involved and helped connect her with therapy services for her PTSD. This support made a huge difference in her recovery and in our lives.

Unfortunately, Hannah was diagnosed with meningitis again on 26 March 2025. During a lumbar puncture, a nerve was struck in her back, which left her temporarily wheelchair-bound. Through physiotherapy, she has been slowly regaining her mobility, but it has been a long and difficult journey.

We are incredibly grateful for the support we've received from the Meningitis Research Foundation. Their help has been truly invaluable, and now I want to give something back to this amazing charity that stood by us when we needed it most.