On #SevereMEday (August 8), I remember my friend Ruth Nolan from Glasnevin in Dublin (Ireland) who has spent around 25 years bedbound with ME since falling ill as a teenager. She had been advised to exercise which appears to have contributed to the severity of her illness.
For a number of years, she worked as a volunteer from her bed with the Irish ME/CFS Association providing valuable work and insight. Unfortunately then in around 2008 she needed dental work done and setbacks from it and follow-up treatment meant her life was reduced to a terrible existence only able for brief conversations with her family. I have only received a few text messages from her since. Her life is really hard.
My thoughts are with her and her family and all those with severe ME and very severe ME and their loved ones today, as well as those who unfortunately passed away due to the illness or complications relating to it.