Vonnie caught a really bad virus at the start of 2020. She developed a fever, and felt lethargic and “lifeless.” After a few weeks she felt a little bit better and returned to work, but says she really “pushed it” and by mid-March became unwell again. At the time she wasn’t sure if it was Covid because headaches were not listed as a symptom on the NHS website. However, over time Vonnie’s condition deteriorated and she describes feeling “like a zombie” with a fever, body aches, sore throat, and changes in taste and smell. She suspected it was Covid and says it was around this time that things went “downhill” with chest pains, heart palpitations, coughing and breathing problems.

An ambulance was called to Vonnie’s house and the paramedics said “suspected Covid.” Vonnie continued to experience severe symptoms and says she was “out of it for a good three months.” Eventually an antibody test confirmed that she had had Covid.

Vonnie is the head of her family and so during this time she describes the impact on her family as “dire.” Help came from her church community and her children, and her husband juggles work with caring and household chores.

Vonnie eventually tried to get back to work but was frequently off sick and has now had to give up her job. She worries about how her Long Covid is affecting her family as she says “There’s no-one cooking proper meals anymore.” She also misses being able to do things like going to the cinema with her grandchildren. Vonnie worries about the strain her being unwell puts on her husband and children. She thinks they feel as though “they’ve lost someone, but they’re still there.”