symptoms differed significantly. The establishment of Long Covid Kids (LCK) was not a deliberate choice; it was a guttural response driven by an understanding of my child’s profound illness. After connecting with other families grappling with similar harrowing experiences, it became apparent that LCK was a necessary solution to an urgent and escalating problem. What lessons of running a successful business did you employ to set up Long Covid Kids? Determination, focus, and genuine were consumed in bed, personal care became challenging and my husband became our carer as multiple symptoms including heart palpitations, cognitive impairment and extreme exhaustion consumed our lives. Despite my efforts to work and teach online classes, utilising every ounce of available energy to support my clients and sustain my business during the pandemic, I remained confined to bed, venturing out solely for teaching sessions before promptly retreating back to rest. On camera, I tried to maintain a facade of bravery, driven by my love for my work and the necessity to provide a semblance of normalcy to loyal clients, all while relying on my income to sustain us.In 2021 ill health dictated that I press pause on my career.Our recovery journey continues; neither of us have been able to return to exercise or the activities we enjoyed but we are learning to live with a disability that may or may not be permanent. Long Covid has changed our lives. At which point did you decide to found a charity and why focused on children as opposed to the entire population? Yes, I remember that moment vividly—early one morning, just three days after a nurse dismissed my daughter’s worsening condition. The nurse asserted she must be mimicking my symptoms and assured me my daughter would feel better once reunited with her friends. I felt an overwhelming mix of frustration, exasperation, and genuine hurt from the nurse’s dismissive remarks. I was acutely aware that my daughter’s deteriorating health had nothing to do with the ongoing pandemic experience, and it certainly wasn’t my fault, especially considering our motivation are vital attributes for any self-employed entrepreneur. Being surrounded by people with genuine goals is both motivating and constructive. I didn’t concern myself with the precise path it would take or develop a rigid plan but supported organic growth. This approach proved advantageous, allowing us to be flexible and adapt to evolving needs and health challenges. Throughout my career, my work with clients has always been driven by passion and a deep sense of purpose. Providing the necessary www.ceotodaymagazine.com 35 “After establishing a thriving, trusted community business, connecting specialist expert coaches and therapists with women, I had planned to offer corporate training to reach a wider audience. Work-life balance is especially hard for women, who more often take the lead in parenting and caring roles. I wanted to close the gap between what women get and what they need by taking the knowledge and sessions to the workplace. I hoped to help employers understand how to support women in the workplace. The dream was that once I had data to evidence the success and benefits, both for their employees and their businesses, the modal could be successfully replicated, improving well-being and productivity and providing work-life balance for women in other communities.”
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