In her blog, Amy talks about her thoughts, fears, and comforts whilst self isolating during the Covid-19 crisis.

Window Gazing. As I sit in my flat watching people sun bathe in the communal garden. I lose all sense of time, the minutes turn into hours, hours into days, days into weeks

You see I am part of the 1% that is high risk to Covid-19. I have been through too much, fought death far too often to take a risk of stepping over my door step and coming in contact with that one carrier that might put me in ITU or worse my grave. Why I hear you ask?!

Well just 22 months ago (14^th June 2018 at 16:00 to be precise) I was one of the lucky ones to receive a double lung transplant; which I needed due to end stage Cystic Fibrosis. I waited a total of 2 years and 6 calls for my lungs, so to be silly now and put myself at more risk is not only disrespectful to the amazing surgeons at Harefield Hospital but also to the amazing donor who saved my life.

It was a long recovery with one drain taking the mickey out of me and draining 150ml over night so it was always put off being removed as they like under 50ml in 24 hours. Oh, but the day it got taken out was the best day! To be totally free from drains, to start a recovery programme properly, to move, to shower and to dress without fear of pulling it out was totally amazing. I didn’t plan to live, or to have a future and I was totally prepared to pass away so even to this day I am grateful. But I also live in a curtain of surrealness I am thankful every day. Just 6 weeks post-transplant I took part in Harefield Fun Run and walked 5k, everyone thought I was mad but I wanted to do something for Harefield Hospital to show my appreciation and also give these lungs a try. To be able to walk with no oxygen does not get old!

Now its 11/04/2020 and the whole world is living in a curtain of doubt, fear and uncertainty. We are faced with Covid-19. So much is unknown about this virus; it’s scary. Facing so many deaths and loosing loved ones this way brings so much sadness to me. I know everyone is struggling with this isolation but if we all just do as we are told for the time being, they have told us (for me a minimum of 12 weeks) it will all be over. We can then rebuild and get together with one another again. I crave a hug every day and being alone is no way to live through this but it’s something I must do. I’m in no rush to have a chat with the grim reaper again.

With having a lung transplant there are many complications. So, I’m used to having hospital appointments coming out of my ears, or no time or energy to do anything. With all hospital appointments becoming telephone ones I find I am having time to rediscover myself; I have started doing clubbercise (yep, actual exercise check me out :0). I do weights with ‘Heff’ physio from my Cystic Fibrosis unit and he is sometimes so mean and rarely awards me a gold star ☹

I am doing my art projects and spending time with my newly adopted cat. When this is not going on I volunteer at Cat’s Protection, and over Christmas I fostered a lovely little girl called Phoenix (aka Fifi). In February, I became her new mum after she had an eye removed due to cancer. She does tell me what she wants, she will sit next to me on the floor looking at me until I get out her favourite pink blanket and then she’ll jump up and sleep for hours. I love giving back in any way I can and she came into my life just in time for this ‘lockdown’.

When your feeling down think about one thing that makes you smile. As long as you smile once a day, you're going to be ok.

Just please stay home, please don’t put anymore strain on the NHS.

Please take care of one another.

If you've been inspired by Amy's story and would like to share your own experience in our hospitals, please get in touch - we love hearing from you! To learn more about our Covid-19 Emergeny Appeal please click here