A woman with a rare lung disease has opened up about the long journey she has been on since her lung collapsed after a gym session.
Harriet Davidson, from Bristol, was rushed to hospital seven years ago and diagnosed with lymphangioleiomyopathy (also known as LAM disease) at the age of 24.
“At that point, I had a hard time understanding the diagnosis because of my age and because of the lockdown. I didn’t know what it meant to live a normal life again after being diagnosed,” Davidson said.
But she said she feels stronger now and wants to do something positive by taking on the challenge of running four marathons in four days.
LAM is an incurable disease that affects around 300 women in the UK and is characterized by cysts in the lungs.
Estrogen can worsen symptoms over time and cause a severe decline in lung function. Patients may require a lung transplant or die early.
“For the first few months, I was in denial. I didn’t want to look into it, I didn’t want to know too much, because that would mean it was real.
“It’s been a really long journey, but we’re getting to a point where we’re seeing positive outcomes and we feel more secure,” Davidson said.
Davidson was diagnosed with LAM disease in 2019 [Harriet Davidson]
She is currently taking medication to stabilize her lung function, and starting on February 25, their third wedding anniversary, she and her husband are attempting to run four marathons in four days.
“I decided I wanted to bring some positivity to this disease and how I was coping,” she said.
Although he felt anxious at first, he says he has grown in confidence.
“I feel really strong. It turns out my body can do so much more than I thought it could,” she added.
Davidson said she realized her body was capable of “much more” than she thought. [BBC]
A spokesperson for the National LAM Center at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust described Mr Davidson’s determination as “inspiring”.
“For someone living with LAM, running four marathons in four days is an extraordinary personal challenge.
“LAM is a variable disease that can affect lung function and cause complications such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and pneumothorax, and often limits exercise capacity.
“While not all people with LAM are able to participate in such endurance events, her determination is inspiring and highlights the individuality of people living with LAM,” the researchers added.
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