James Taylor will be running the race of his life this weekend for his wife – one of many doctors and healthcare professionals who’ve been robbed of their lives by Long Covid.
His wife, Sarah, was floored by the virus in February 2023, soon after starting work in London as a qualified GP. She has now spent over a year unable to get out of bed, hold a conversation, see friends, read, listen to music, watch TV or use her phone. She wears an eye-mask to shut out the light and noise-cancelling headphones.
The couple have now moved to his parent’s home in Nottingham so they can share in her care.
Novice runner James, a tax advisor working reduced hours from home, will be running to raise money for the ME Association in the Robin Hood Half Marathon on Sunday (29th September).
He talked to us about his wife – known professionally as Dr Sarah Pocklen, her maiden name – while out walking the dog last week:
“Sarah was always fit and healthy until she caught Covid and never recovered from it. She keeps getting worse and worse and we have found very little help available within the NHS, with diagnosis having to come from private specialists.
“Here I am, very much a non-medical person, and I had to google ME and get most of my basic information from the ME websites.
“Finding anybody who can help nearby within a short timeframe has been a real challenge.
“I am fortunate enough to be able to afford limited private assistance, as otherwise we would have been left to wait an incredibly long time for any diagnosis or guidance.
“It wasn’t until May this year that we obtained a diagnosis of ME/CFS from Dr Claire Taylor, the Long Covid specialist in Scotland, who saw immediately what it was. We now speak to Dr Taylor on a monthly basis”.
PHOTOS show: James and Sarah on the day she was awarded her Master's degree at University College London; Sarah with their golden retriever Monty; a special dinner out for Sarah; Sarah and her family (including twin sister Anna and her nephew).
James and Sarah, who are both aged 34, were childhood sweethearts who met at school when they were 14 and have stayed together since. He’s immensely proud of what she's achieved.
“She was 18 when she went to UCL medical school and, after six years before qualifying, became a junior hospital doctor. She went on to train as an GP whilst also obtaining her Master’s in medical education and lecturing at the local medical school. She was also lead author on a research project, which was later published after Sarah become ill thanks to the help of her old research colleagues. She loved the life and working with patients – which, of course, is lost to her now.”
On 10th September, Dr Claire Taylor tweeted on X:
“Sadly, I look after too many now bedbound Doctors. Talented individuals in the prime of their lives, cut down by long Covid, days spent alone & feeling like they are dying, careers gone. Now ignored by society.”
Thank you for taking on your running challenge, James. It’s hugely appreciated. We hope that Sarah is on a path to recovery and much better health. If you would like to support James in the Robin Hood Half on Sunday, please visit:
https://www.justgiving.com/page/james-taylor-1724658665637
Tony Britton
Senior Fundraising Consultant, The ME Association
tony.britton@meassociation.org.uk Mob: 07393 805566
