Lilly
“We’re just told to give her ibuprofen.”
That’s despite the anti-inflammatory having little to no effect on Lilly’s Long Covid symptoms. Debilitating ailments that included chest pains, dizzy spells, headaches and lethargy.
“I know she says the ibuprofen’s not working
Just continue,” the doctor said.
Left feeling angry, frustrated, and unheard, Lilly’s mum feels her daughter's condition was not being taken seriously.
“The minute they hear she’s had COVID, they don’t push for her. No tests, referrals or follow-ups,” she says.
The school has offered little support either. Despite saying they’ll help in any way they can, their only suggestion has been for Lilly to sit out of PE and stay in at lunchtime.
But all this does is isolate her more.
It’s now Lilly’s last year in primary school and she’s gone from 100% attendance to being off every other week. Pushing herself too hard, she often collapses in the playground and has to be collected - frustrating for her when she used to love going to school. So to help her rest and recover, they may need to drop her attendance to 2-3 days a week. There’s little chance of life outside of school otherwise. “We try to plan days out as a family but she sleeps in until three in the afternoon some days, so we can't,” says mum.
She just wishes the doctor would refer her little girl to a paediatrician. “Anyone that can help her gain some of her childhood back,” she says.
That is why Long Covid Kids is committed to providing support, supporting research, and creating resources like the LCK Educational Toolkit. With your help, we can continue our work. Please consider donating today and help us be there for every family who needs us.
Long Covid Kids supports children and young people living with Long Covid and related illnesses, as well as the families and caregivers who look after them. We rely entirely on donations to fund our vital work. And this is why we need your help to continue helping children like Lilly who are struggling with Long Covid.
Please donate today to give children with Long Covid a brighter future.
£20 could help us continue championing the rights of children like Lilly whose lives have been turned upside down by Long Covid.
£10 could help us run weekly support sessions for children like Lilly who are immensely isolated by their illness.
£5 could help us moderate chat forums for young people like Lilly desperate to connect with others in the same situation.
Your gift can make a meaningful difference in the lives of these brave young people. Thank you for your support.
If you are a young person who has been affected by the ongoing symptoms of COVID, support is available, with or without a diagnosis. More info here.
If you, or someone you know has had a change in their health following a COVID infection reliable support and information can be found here:
