Two Covid survivors speak of trauma and ongoing effects of Long Covid

Sophie van Reijswoud went from a healthy teen to vomiting 40 times a day and being tube fed. Now, her parents share the trauma and ongoing effects of Long Covid.

Sophie van Reijswoud went from a bright, bubbly and sporty girl to a teen slowly wasting away.

The 15-year-old got Covid in March 2022, and her parents say she has never recovered since.

She has spent nearly a year of the past 18 months in a hospital.

And her life now involves being tube fed, vomiting up to 40 times a day and always constantly dizzy.

Mum Erin Godwin says their world has been turned upside down as she quit her job in law, while her husband Robert van Reijswoud took on FIFO work to help pay their bills.

Long Covid sufferer Sophie van Reijswoud with her dad Robert. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Watching her slowly waste away has been agonising, and not being able to do anything further to save her, has felt like screaming and no one coming for help,” Ms Godwin said.

“Sophie is tube fed into her intestines via a constant drip of formula, that means being attached to a pump nearly 24 hours a day to survive.

“She is constantly nauseous and vomits all intake, food and liquids, vomiting around 30 to 40 times a day, every day. She has a lot of pain.

“Her bowels and stomach don’t work properly and just recently her bladder has also stopped working.”

As Sophie lays in bed at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Ms Godwin is fighting to have better research and support for Australians suffering with long Covid.

Sophie van Reijswoud caught Covid in March 2022. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“There needs to be real support for those with long Covid. We aren’t eligible for NDIS but have a huge amount of medical need and there is a lack of support for it outside the hospital,” she said.

“A dedicated Long Covid research arm with adequate funding for research, trials and educating medical professionals, is appropriate.

“Covid is ubiquitous now, so too will be long Covid. We need to work on solutions with urgency.”

Sophie van Reijswoud when she was happy and healthy.

Sophie van Reijswoud before she got Covid.

But despite Sophie’s harrowing ordeal, her parents couldn’t be prouder of her daily fight.

“Sophie has a desperately poor quality of life, but I can’t express the level of resilience she demonstrates to keep going with such positivity every day,” Ms Godwin said.

“I’m so proud of my daughter‘s spirit and drive to get better.”

‘NIGHTMARE’: QLD DOCTOR’S HARROWING ORDEAL

For 16 months, Melanie Broadley has been living a nightmare.

The 32-year-old from Brisbane — who ironically is a postdoctoral researcher looking at the psychological aspects of living with a chronic illness — is among thousands of Australians quietly suffering with debilitating symptoms from long Covid.

Dr Broadley’s condition is so bad, she spends up to 20 hours a day in bed and is unable to work or go out with her husband and friends.

“I have so many symptoms. Shortness of breath, a persistent cough, extreme fatigue, heart palpitations, chest pain, sleep difficulties and sensory issues like blurred vision and ringing in the ears,” Dr Broadley said.

Melanie Broadley hasn't been able to work for the past five months and has debilitating symptoms. Picture: John Gass

“Even going for a short walk around my neighbourhood is enough to trigger a crash. Along with these debilitating symptoms, I have experienced a loss of identity.

“Prior to Covid, I was an avid reader, but due to my cognitive symptoms I haven’t been able to read a single novel in over a year.”

Dr Broadley said it has been “challenging” to get people to understand the seriousness of long Covid.

“Most people have just moved on and forgotten about Covid,” she said.

“It feels very isolating. Friends and family are well-meaning but often say things like “you don’t look sick” or “maybe a change of scenery will help”.

Melanie Broadley said long Covid was “very isolating”. Supplied

Ms Broadley’s symptoms include extreme fatigue and shortness of breath. Picture: John Gass

“These statements really show a lack of understanding of how serious the condition is, and potentially indicate a belief that long Covid is more of a “mindset” than a debilitating medical condition.

Mrs Broadley said people who’d had Covid before can still develop the condition.

“It affects young and old, men and women, vaccinated and unvaccinated, and people at all levels of health pre-Covid,” she said.

“I don’t want anyone else to go through what I, and hundreds of thousands of other Australians, are going through.”