Lewis was born in March 1999 after a long labour. A healthy baby boy, he appeared to be thriving, and his parents looked forward to enjoying those precious first weeks together.
At the time, Lewis’ mother Diane had never heard of Group B Strep. She was not offered a test during pregnancy and was unaware that a seemingly healthy newborn could become seriously ill because of a Group B Strep infection.
When Lewis was just 20 days old, his mother noticed that something wasn’t right. He became increasingly lethargic, was feeding poorly, and developed a distinctive high-pitched cry. “The health visitor assured me he was okay and had colic.” But Lewis continued to deteriorate.
The following day, his condition worsened dramatically and he was rushed to hospital. There, doctors quickly recognised how seriously ill he was. Lewis was intubated, and later that night his parents received the devastating news that he had Group B Strep meningitis.
A few days after his diagnosis, Lewis suffered a massive seizure. His parents were told to prepare themselves for the worst.
“We were told that we might lose him or that he could be left with severe brain damage.”
Lewis survived, but the infection caused life-changing injuries. As a result of the meningitis, he developed severe cerebral palsy and was blind. He was unable to walk or speak and required round-the-clock care throughout his life. Lewis was deeply loved and cared for by those around him. In June 2021, Lewis sadly passed away at the age of 22.
The impact of Group B Strep extended far beyond the initial illness. What began as an infection in the first few weeks of life shaped every aspect of Lewis’ future and profoundly affected his entire family.
Like many parents, Diane was unaware of the infection during pregnancy and had no recognised risk factors. Lewis’ story is a powerful reminder that Group B Strep disease can occur even when there are no obvious warning signs.
Lewis will always be remembered with love by his family, whose lives were forever changed by the Group B Strep meningitis he developed at just three weeks old.
