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.
John and Sammy Knowles with their son Jaxon, Photo Credit: Sammy Knowles/Facebook
“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.”
That night, he asked to sleep in his mother’s bed, something he often did when he wasn’t feeling well.
Jaxon Knowles eating dessert in a table, Photo Credit: Sammy Knowles/Facebook
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.”
Jaxon Knowles holding two new pet fish in a plastic bag, Photo Credit: Sammy Knowles/Facebook
“It still doesn’t seem real,” Sammy said. “He was fine just hours before, and then he was gone. There were no warning signs.”
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).
Jaxon Knowles eating food at a restaurant on Valentines Day, Photo Credit: Sammy Knowles/Facebook
“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.
“If we can save just one life, then that’s something,” Sammy said.
Sources: People