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More on KentOnline
Six months ago today, mum of three Kelly Cooney went to bed with a headache – not for a second realising how her life was to be turned upside down.
Although she has no memory of it, an ambulance was called the following morning – Christmas Day – when she crawled downstairs, having turned a grey colour due to lack of oxygen.
She'd caught Covid-19 at some point in the days before and would go on to spend the following weeks fighting for her life in Medway Maritime and at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital where she was transferred.
The 37-year-old was placed in an induced coma and her family were told to prepare themselves for the worst.
After leaving hospital, she underwent rehabilitation at Amherst Court Care Home, Chatham, where she suffered a mini-stroke
Speaking ahead of the six-month anniversary of falling ill, she has revealed how she's still desperately sick with Long Covid.
She's been "in and out" of hospital several times as medics try to understand how best to treat her, how best to deal with something so unknown.
She said: "The staff have been absolutely brilliant, but they're still trying to work out what happens next and don't know what the illness is going to do."
Recently the Frindsbury resident was admitted for a week after developing sepsis after a routine mishap at home.
Because of the partial paralysis she now suffers, she didn't feel it when she stubbed her toe, causing her nail to come off.
On a daily basis she battles with fatigue and says she has to motivate herself to get out of bed.
She said: "I'm on a hell of a lot of medication at the moment. About 15 tablets in all.
"I have to force myself to get up, everyday I try and find the strength to fight it, to try and be normal again."
Before she fell ill, Kelly – who has lost two stones – was a full-time carer for her dad John, 63, who has been a tower of strength these past months.
"He just tells me to get up and get on with it, which is what I need really," she said.
Of all the problems she faces, it's the nightmares which lead her to require PTSD counselling.
Because of what she experienced and saw while in intensive care, she has powerful dreams.
They follow the same, surreal theme of being kidnapped and taken to an alien spaceship.
She's told this comes from being semi-conscious in hospital, surrounded by medics in full PPE gear and being unable to get up and away.
"It's just my brain's way of trying to make sense of it all," she said.
Perhaps the worst part for her is the loss of her "beautiful long blonde hair" which she says started falling out in clumps until it was all gone.
A friend set up a fundraising page which garnered £300 which she will use to but some wigs, but she longs to grow her own hair back eventually.
She added: "I can't believe I am alive to be honest, but it's had some good come from hit, as it's made the family a lot closer and thankful for what we have.
"My three children deal with the situation in their own way; they really suffered with what went on as everyone feared the worst.
"My 10-year-old daughter Summer said to be 'I am glad you didn't die mummy', she's so sweet."
Looking forward to the 12-month anniversary, Kelly is hoping for a happy family Christmas.
She said: "I want to be up and about and back to normal, that's my goal. I really still can't believe that this has happened to me."
It was revealed today that an estimated two million Britons may have suffered Long Covid.
