“I think he actually got it while he was climbing on a mountain climbing trip. It was bad, but it wasn't terrible.”
James first caught Covid-19 in April 2022 and as his partner Emma I'll explain it Helen Pidoit was only months later that the severity of his infection became clear. He couldn't stand up and walk, and was sensitive to noise and light.
“There are black plastic sheets above all the windows and doors, which can stop the light coming in,” says Emma.
James is currently in the darkness and feeling pain as Emma and his parents provide critical care support. They hope that expensive treatment will help him recover.
Five years after the first Covid-19 lockdown, James is today one of the 2 million people in the UK and is believed to be suffering from a long time Covid. There are over 200 symptoms associated with this condition, but the cause remains unknown and no approved treatment is available.
But people can get better Georgina Tell Helen Pido. She caught Covid-19 in October 2022 and had the ability to maintain work, home and relationships due to the debilitating symptoms that developed. She explains she is lucky enough to receive treatment from London's long Covid Clinic, and can lead a life similar to the one she had before the pandemic. The difficult experiences made her better appreciate the struggles faced by people with disabilities. “I can live a normal life and live naturally again. This is something that comes to normal when you're healthy.”
