Sammy and Jordan Knowles spent years hoping for a child, and when their son Jaxon was born, he became the light of their lives. A joyful and energetic little boy, Jaxon had just returned from a fun-filled family trip when he suddenly began complaining of mild arm pain. What seemed like a typical childhood ache quickly escalated, leaving his parents deeply concerned. They gave him medicine and stayed by his side, never imagining the night would end in tragedy.

In the early morning, Sammy noticed unusual symptoms: a dark rash under Jaxon’s arm, vomiting, and swelling in his mouth. Alarmed, she and Jordan called emergency services, but by the time help arrived, Jaxon’s condition had worsened. At the hospital, medical teams worked desperately to save him, but the infection had progressed rapidly. On the morning of February 17, the Knowles family lost their only child.

Doctors later confirmed that Jaxon had died from meningococcal disease — a rare but aggressive form of bacterial meningitis. This illness can appear suddenly, often with symptoms like fever, rash, vomiting, and drowsiness. While some strains can be prevented with vaccines, the type that affected Jaxon was not one of them. His parents, devastated by the loss, are now committed to raising awareness about this condition in the hope of helping other families recognize early warning signs.

Through the Jaxon Knowles Forever Fund, the family is working with the charity Meningitis Now to support vaccine research and education. They want others to know that bacterial meningitis can progress in just hours — and that urgent medical care is critical. By sharing Jaxon’s story, they hope to prevent another family from facing the same heartbreaking loss.