After seven years of IVF treatments and heartbreaking miscarriages, Sammy and Jordan Knowles finally welcomed their miracle son, Jaxon. At just four years old, he was the joy of their lives, filling their days with laughter, travel, and unforgettable family moments. But during a February weekend trip, their world suddenly changed. On the ride home, Jaxon quietly complained of arm pain and a mild stomach ache, seeming only a little unwell.

By the next morning, his condition had taken a terrifying turn. Sammy noticed a strange dark rash spreading under his arm, and soon after, Jaxon began vomiting and struggling to breathe. His parents dialed 999 as his symptoms worsened rapidly. Paramedics rushed him to Rotherham Hospital, where doctors worked frantically, but the infection spread too fast. Despite their desperate efforts, Jaxon died on February 17, 2025.

The cause was identified as meningococcal disease, a rare but aggressive form of bacterial meningitis. Its early symptoms—fever, rash, nausea, or unusual drowsiness—can appear similar to common illnesses but quickly become life-threatening. In Jaxon’s case, there was no vaccine that could have prevented it. His parents now warn other families to treat such symptoms as urgent emergencies.

In their grief, Sammy and Jordan created the Jaxon Knowles Forever Fund with the charity Meningitis Now. They hope raising awareness and funding research will prevent other families from experiencing the same devastating loss. “He changed our world and finally made us parents,” Sammy said. “Now we have nothing—but if sharing his story saves one child, it will mean something.”