What was supposed to be a happy family getaway turned into an unimaginable nightmare for the Knowles family. Instead of creating lasting memories on their vacation, they were met with devastating heartbreak as they lost their beloved four-year-old son, Jaxon Knowles. Now, his grieving parents are sharing their painful story, hoping it serves as a warning to other families and raises awareness about the silent and deadly threat of meningococcal disease, a form of bacterial meningitis. Sammy and Jordan Knowles had planned a short trip to Blackpool with their son Jaxon, their only child and the light of their lives. They had been looking forward to spending quality time together, never imagining that tragedy was looming.

After returning home on Sunday, February 16, Jaxon complained of a pain under his arm, something that didn’t initially seem serious. According to Sammy, he fell asleep for a while, but when he woke up, he said his tummy hurt. At the time, it seemed like nothing more than a minor illness—something Sammy was used to handling, as Jaxon had suffered from chest infections in the past. Sammy did what any mother would do; she gave him a low dose of paracetamol to bring down his temperature and help him feel more comfortable. Later that night, Jaxon asked to sleep in his mother’s bed, something he often did when he wasn’t feeling well. Sammy comforted him, believing he would feel better in the morning. But when she woke at 5 a.m., she immediately knew something was very wrong.

Using the flashlight on her phone to check his temperature, Sammy noticed a rash on Jaxon’s body. At first, she thought it might be chickenpox, but when she turned on the bedside lamp for a clearer look, she realized it was something far more serious. The rash was spreading rapidly, and Jaxon’s condition began to deteriorate almost instantly. His mouth and tongue started to swell, he vomited, and he struggled to breathe. Sammy and Jordan acted quickly, calling emergency services and doing their best to keep Jaxon stable until help arrived. They turned him on his side as they waited for the ambulance, praying they weren’t too late. The minutes felt like hours as they desperately tried to save their son. When Jaxon finally arrived at the hospital, his condition was critical. Sammy described a scene that no parent should ever have to witness—fifteen doctors working frantically to save her little boy’s life. She sang his favorite lullabies in an attempt to comfort him, even as he cried tears of blood. Despite their efforts, doctors determined Jaxon needed to be put in a coma and transferred to a children’s hospital. But before that could happen, his heart stopped. Although they were able to revive him briefly, Jaxon passed away on the morning of Monday, February 17.

Sammy and Jordan were in shock. Just hours before, their son had seemed fine. There had been no obvious signs that anything was seriously wrong. Jaxon’s death was later confirmed to be caused by meningococcal disease, a fast-acting and deadly form of bacterial meningitis. For Sammy and Jordan, the loss is unbearable.

Jaxon was their miracle baby. They had spent seven long years trying to conceive, enduring multiple rounds of IVF and the pain of three miscarriages before finally bringing Jaxon into the world. He was their hope, their joy, their everything. Now, he’s gone. In their grief, they are determined to raise awareness about meningitis in hopes of preventing other families from experiencing the same pain. Jordan says, “If we can help even one family, that would mean everything.” Bacterial meningitis can strike quickly and is often hard to diagnose in its early stages, as the symptoms—fever, headache, and fatigue—are common to many other illnesses. As the infection progresses, more alarming symptoms may appear, such as a stiff neck, sensitivity to light, confusion, seizures, and rashes. Without immediate medical attention, the disease can be fatal within hours.

In Jaxon’s memory, a charity page has been created with all donations going to Meningitis Now, an organization dedicated to supporting families affected by the disease and funding further research. Jordan expressed hope that with more funding, a vaccine might be developed in the future to prevent tragedies like this one. As a tribute to Jaxon, Sheffield Wednesday, the soccer team he adored, will honor him during an upcoming match against Sunderland with a four-minute round of applause. His parents are still coming to terms with the emptiness left behind. “He was everything to us,” Sammy says. “Now, there’s just a void. Our house is empty. Our world is empty. We have nothing.” Despite their unimaginable grief, they continue to share their story, turning their pain into purpose so that other families might be spared.