Suffering from Long Covid: British woman (39) raises money to die in Switzerland

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Kelly Louise Smith-May (39) has been bedridden for almost two years. She can no longer sit, stand or walk. She can hardly speak anymore and cannot tolerate music, TV or conversations with friends. However, she can’t sleep either. If she sleeps for a few hours, she wakes up exhausted.

A close family friend describes Smith-May’s torment on the Gofundme website. The family is now raising money to take Smith-May to Switzerland in a camper, to euthanasia organization Pegasos in Basel.

Severe neurological disease caused by Long Covid

The woman developed a Covid infection in December 2021, which became serious. Since then, she has been suffering from Long Covid, which the family says has developed into a serious neurological disease. She spends all day in the dark and is painfully sensitive to light, sound, smells, movement and touch.

“She can only wash her hair every six weeks because she is sensitive to touch,” the friend continues. “Kelly suffers constantly, every day. She is physically, mentally, mentally and spiritually exhausted.” Her illness has been likened to terminal cancer, AIDS or Parkinson’s.

“There is no medicine”

Death now seems the only way out for the woman. The page reads: “She did not make this decision lightly. There is no cure and all possible treatments have failed her.”

She can no longer care for her four children, is dependent on her husband for personal hygiene and has to go to the toilet in bed. The friend continues: “Kelly describes her illness as a ‘living death sentence’ and feels like she is being poisoned every minute of every day.”

According to the association “Long Covid Switzerland”, more and more people affected are registering for euthanasia. A prominent example in Switzerland is Daniela Caviglia (†56). The communications entrepreneur suffered from ME/CFS and, like Smith-May, spent 22 hours a day in bed.

Caviglia sought to draw attention to the disease and called for greater engagement with those affected by politics and the healthcare system. Meanwhile, she had no more hope for herself; Caviglia died on August 7 with the help of the euthanasia organization Exit. (neo)

Source: Blick