Ewan Cooke
Aged six days
E.coli meningitis survivor
The parents of baby Ewan Cooke faced seven months of uncertainty as he battled back to health after falling ill with an unusual form of meningitis.
Helen and Paul Cooke, from Gosport, feared the worst when their precious son was diagnosed with E.coli meningitis - a strain which accounts for only two per cent of all cases of the deadly brain bug.
For the first seven months of his young life, Ewan has been in and out of hospital and on oral antibiotics to fight the infection.
Now the little battler has been given the all-clear after some 14 lumbar punctures and countless brain scans.
Mum Helen said: "Doctors say Ewan has been very unlucky but I feel he's been amazingly lucky to pull through with no after affects.
"It's still very raw for us but now he's finished his medication we're very much looking forward to the future."
The family are sharing their story to lend their support to charity Meningitis UK, which is aiming to raise awareness of the disease ahead of the winter months when cases of the disease peak.
Helen remembers how Ewan initially projectile vomited in the evening before being irritable throughout the night and not being able to settle.
He didn't want to take any milk either so when he became lifeless Helen called doctor.
She said: "I just had a feeling something was right, even though it's common for a newborn baby to be sickly.
"He hadn't had a feed for 12 hours so the doctor agreed something was wrong and called Portsmouth Hospital to say we were on our way.
"When he got there his head just flopped backwards, I was really worried and panicking at this point."
The medical experts initially thought it was an infection before tests confirmed Ewan had E.coli meningitis.
Infection in babies may occur during delivery, or from bacteria acquired in hospital or in the home.
His breathing deteriorated and he was transferred to Southampton General Hospital, where he was placed on a life-support machine as his body struggled to fight the disease.
A fragile Ewan was transferred back to Portsmouth after three days and he made a good recovery, finally being allowed home after three weeks.
But it wasn't the end of the trauma for his family, as he soon fell ill again.
Helen explained: "Ewan deteriorated again - a week to the day he was let out of hospital. The meningitis had come back. It was like déjà-vu.
"From that moment on, for seven months, he was constantly monitored. He was an in-patient for three and a half months, and had lumbar punctures every week.
"Then he's had his blood checked every week, and been on oral antibiotics. I'm so relieved it's over now. Ewan's our little miracle.
"I just can't praise the hospital enough. They handled the situation really well and I felt confident that Ewan was getting the best possible care."
Now Ewan's a happy and healthy seven-month-old, Helen and husband Paul want to give something back by supporting Meningitis UK.
MeningitisUK · Registered Charity No.1076774