What happened to Hannah Ewing when she first contracted meningitis?

When Hannah Ewing first contracted meningitis, she experienced severe vomiting and diarrhea, was taken to the hospital, and spent eight days in a medically induced coma.

What were the long-term effects of Hannah Ewing's initial meningitis infection?

Following her initial meningitis infection, Hannah Ewing became deaf in her left ear, required a hearing aid for her right ear, and had to relearn how to walk due to nerve damage.

Did Hannah Ewing contract meningitis more than once?

Yes, Hannah Ewing contracted meningitis a second time approximately three months after her initial recovery, though the subsequent rash was later diagnosed as lupus.

Home / Health / Bacterial Meningitis Nearly Claimed Her Life Twice

Bacterial Meningitis Nearly Claimed Her Life Twice

24 Mar

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Summary

Woman fell into a coma for eight days after initial meningitis diagnosis.
Suffered permanent deafness and relearned to walk after nerve damage.
Contracted meningitis a second time just three months later.

Bacterial Meningitis Nearly Claimed Her Life Twice

Hannah Ewing, 26, faced a life-threatening battle with bacterial meningitis, initially mistaking her severe symptoms for food poisoning in November 2024. Her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to an eight-day medically induced coma. Doctors confirmed pneumococcal meningitis, a particularly dangerous strain. The illness resulted in permanent deafness in her left ear, a hearing aid for her right, and significant physical rehabilitation to relearn walking after a nerve was caught during a lumbar puncture.

Just three months after her initial discharge, Hannah experienced a terrifying recurrence in March 2025. This second bout, though initially concerning for meningitis, was later attributed to lupus, identified after a rash appeared. The process of diagnosis for the second episode also led to nerve damage, necessitating extensive physiotherapy to regain mobility and manage ongoing back pain and balance issues.