LCK In The News

Lorna, who lives in Penicuik in Midlothian, said her local GP was helpful and concerned for Caitlin, but it has been difficult to understand why she hasn't recovered like her friends. "She still gets pains in her legs, that's probably the worst thing along with the fatigue. There's breathlessness, chest and tummy pain, brain fog and she gets quite light-headed at times."
16 year old Abigail from East Dunbartonshire has "been bed-bound for a year now, but was first diagnosed on September 6 2021, that's when our lives changed forever," says her Mum Heather.

Amanda Jelley is the mother of 16-year-old long Covid patient Elizabeth Jelley. Alongside looking after Elizabeth while her husband works overseas, Elizabeth has her own struggles to deal with. Soon after her daughter developed long Covid, she went blind. Because Amanda can no longer drive they are forced to use local bus services or taxis costing around a hundred pounds for a one-way journey to the hospital.

Elizabeth Jelley, who has lived with long Covid for three years, says she fears going to sleep every night because she doesn't know if she'll wake up in the morning.
“I don’t know what it’s like to be a proper teenager because I’ve been housebound. I’ve not had a chance.”

For 11% of people who are infected, COVID-19 leads to Long Covid – a debilitating condition that can cause, among other symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, muscle pain, fatigue, sleep disorders and shortness of breath. Most recent counts, from January 2023, report 70,000 children are still experiencing symptoms of Long Covid; 43,000 of these children have had symptoms for over a year.

The Independent reports on the son of Long Covid Kids Lead rep for the Republic of Ireland. Sarah's son Jake O'Connell, whose Long Covid symptoms are impacting every area of his life, is currently managing only one hour's energy a day.