Home quarantine denied for woman with “immune system of newborn”

A woman with a dangerously low immune system hoping to quarantine at home with her mother as a carer has been denied the exemption by the Queensland Government.

A woman with the “immune system of a baby” has been denied a home quarantine exemption from the Queensland Government after an overseas treatment helped her recover from a debilitating illness.

Samantha Lakey, 29, who is a pilot based in Brisbane was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in May and left for Russia for an advanced treatment a month ago.

She finished the 29-day stem cell treatment which, while a success, has left her immune system very vulnerable to illnesses like Covid-19.

Ms Lakey had stem cell treatment over 29 days in Russia and is set to return to Australia and hopes she can quarantine at home.

She was denied exemption to quarantine at home with her mother as her carer and returns to Queensland on Thursday night.

“I will return to Australia with an immune system of a baby, I will be an open vessel to everything,” Ms Lakey said.

Ms Lakey has been offered an apartment with disability access and a full kitchen with nurses to support her.

But she said she is worried she won’t be able to afford it.

“But I can’t afford that nor so I trust the person that cleaned that apartment before me,” she said.

“Especially when I hear on the news daily that hotels and hospital have Covid-19 patients in and around them every day.”

If she isn’t granted an exemption to quarantine at home she will spend two weeks in the apartment with disability access.

“The aim of the game is for me to be nowhere near people full stop, especially with this Delta variant and people who have been vaccinated becoming positive.”

Samantha Lakey was diagnosed with MS and went to Russia to receive special treatment, she is now trying to get an exemption to quarantine at home instead of a hotel.

She is unable to leave her house for three months anyway due to her condition.

“And that’s the question. Queensland hasn’t given me the reason why I’m not the definition of exceptional circumstance.”

She provided the Queensland Government 17 documents on her health situation in her application.

“All my courage, strength and willpower to have a new life with no MS symptoms will be thrown out the window just because of what?”

Ms Lakey said the ordeal has caused her to completely lose faith in the Government.

Ms Lakey was working as a flight instructor and charter pilot before her diagnosis.

“Well let’s start off with the fact my medical team are in full support of home quarantine because they are fully aware about the risks for my safety.”

“My mum staying with me for those two weeks quarantine rule for the government (not leaving home) then after that she can leave with masks and suit to get food and essentials for me.”

Queensland Health exemptions measure personal circumstance with the public health risk.

They have been in regular contact with Ms Lakey.