After the sudden and tragic death of their 4-year-old son, Jaxon Knowles, from a rare and aggressive form of meningitis, a grieving family in England is turning their heartbreak into advocacy. Sammy and John Knowles, Jaxon’s parents, are now speaking out to raise awareness about this deadly illness and push for increased research funding in hopes of preventing similar tragedies for other families in the future.
Jaxon was born in July 2020 and was lovingly referred to as the couple’s “miracle baby.” His arrival came after Sammy and John endured a long, painful journey through infertility — a journey that included three miscarriages and five rounds of IVF over the course of seven years.
“We had almost lost hope,” Sammy shared in an emotional interview. “We always tried to make his life magical, and every single moment with him felt like a gift.”
But everything changed after what seemed like an ordinary family weekend in Blackpool, England. On February 16, Jaxon started complaining about stomach pain and discomfort under his arm. Because he’d previously suffered from chest infections, his parents weren’t overly alarmed. That night, as he often did when he wasn’t feeling well, Jaxon asked to sleep in bed with his mother.
“He began vomiting after the rash started to look like burst blood vessels,” Sammy recalled. “When his mouth began to swell, I knew something was terribly wrong.”
In a panic, they called emergency services, who instructed them to lay Jaxon on the floor and count his breaths while waiting for the ambulance. Once paramedics arrived, Jaxon was rushed to Rotherham Hospital, where the couple was met with a shocking scene — 15 doctors and nurses were assembled in the ICU, waiting for them.
Jaxon’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He began bleeding from his eyes, and his rash deepened to a dark purple hue. While medical teams did everything they could to save him, Sammy and John softly sang lullabies to comfort their little boy. At one point, doctors managed to restart his heart, but tragically, Jaxon passed away in the early hours of February 17.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” Sammy said. “Just hours before, he was fine. Then suddenly… he was gone. There were no signs, no warnings.”
Doctors later confirmed that Jaxon had contracted meningococcal disease — a severe bacterial infection that attacks the brain and spinal cord. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 10% of cases are fatal, making the condition extremely dangerous.
Devastated but determined, the Knowles family has launched a campaign in Jaxon’s memory to help protect others from the same fate. They established the “Jaxon Knowles Forever Fund” to support Meningitis Now, a UK-based charity focused on meningitis prevention and research. So far, they’ve raised over £13,000 (approximately $17,000 USD).
“There’s no existing vaccine that could’ve saved Jaxon,” Sammy explained. “But with more research and investment, maybe that won’t be the case for other children in the future.”
Though their home now feels painfully empty, Sammy and John are holding onto the hope that their efforts might save another child’s life.
“If we can prevent even one family from going through this… then it’s something,” Sammy said.
Sammy later shared with Yorkshire Live that she had stayed awake with Jaxon until 2 a.m., trying to comfort him. “I gave him some Calpol, and it helped bring his fever down,” she said.
But when she woke up a few hours later to check his temperature again, she noticed a rash. At first, she thought it might be chickenpox. However, once she switched on the light, she realized just how serious the situation was.
“The rash looked like his veins were bursting,” Sammy said. “Then he started throwing up. When his mouth began to swell, I knew we were facing something terrible.”