A devastated family in England is turning their grief into action after their 4-year-old son, Jaxon Knowles, died suddenly from a rare and aggressive form of meningitis. His parents, Sammy and John Knowles, are speaking out in hopes of raising awareness about the deadly disease and funding more research to prevent future tragedies.
Jaxon, described as the couple’s “miracle baby,” was born in July 2020 after his parents endured years of infertility struggles. Sammy and John had spent seven years trying to conceive, undergoing five rounds of IVF and suffering three miscarriages before finally welcoming their son into the world.
“We had almost given up,” Jaxon’s mother told in an interview. “Every moment with him was a blessing, and we always tried to make his life as special as possible.”
But their lives were shattered after a weekend family trip to Blackpool, England. On February 16, Jaxon started complaining of pain under his arm and an upset stomach. His parents weren’t overly alarmed, as he frequently battled chest infections. That night, he asked to sleep in his mother’s bed, something he often did when he wasn’t feeling well.
“I gave him some Calpol, and it brought his fever down,” Sammy told Yorkshire Live, explaining that she had stayed up with him until 2 a.m.
But just a few hours later, she woke to check his temperature and noticed a rash. At first, she assumed it might be chickenpox, but when she turned on the light, the severity of the situation became horrifyingly clear.
“The rash looked like burst veins, and then he started throwing up,” she said. “His mouth swelled up, and I knew something was horribly wrong.”
Panicked, the parents called emergency services, who instructed them to lay Jaxon on the floor and count his breaths. When paramedics arrived, they were rushed to Rotherham Hospital, where they learned that 15 doctors and nurses were waiting for them in the ICU.
Jaxon had contracted meningococcal disease, a severe bacterial infection that affects the brain and spinal cord. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the illness is often fatal, with about 10% of cases resulting in death.
Now, the Knowles family is determined to make sure other families don’t suffer the same loss. They have created the Jaxon Knowles Forever Fund to raise money for Meningitis Now, a charity dedicated to research and prevention. So far, they have raised more than £13,000 (approximately $17,000).
“There was no vaccine available that could have saved Jaxon,” Sammy said. “But with more funding and research, maybe that can change.”
While their home now feels empty without their beloved son, the couple is hopeful that their efforts will help spare another family from the same heartbreak.
