After losing their 4-year-old son Jaxon to a rare and severe form of meningitis, an English family is turning their grief into action. Parents Sammy and John Knowles are raising awareness and funds for research to help prevent similar tragedies. Jaxon, born in July 2020 after three miscarriages and five rounds of IVF, was their “miracle baby.” After a family trip to Blackpool, Jaxon developed stomach pain and a fever on February 16. His parents initially thought it was a chest infection. But by morning, he had a rash, swelling, and severe symptoms.
Paramedics rushed him to Rotherham Hospital, where 15 ICU staff tried desperately to save him. Despite their efforts—including restarting his heart—Jaxon died early on February 17. Doctors diagnosed meningococcal disease, a fast-moving bacterial infection often fatal in young children. Sammy said, “It still doesn’t seem real. He was fine just hours before.”
The Knowles family has launched the Jaxon Knowles Forever Fund, raising over £13,000 for Meningitis Now to support prevention and research. “Jaxon couldn’t have been saved by any vaccine,” Sammy said. “But with more research, maybe that can change.” “If we can save even one life,” she added, “it’s something.”