Avalyn is featured in the METRO: The long Covid legacy: ‘People don’t want to think about us’

The Metro article “The long Covid legacy: ‘People don’t want to think about us’” by Hannah Shewan Stevens highlights the often-overlooked struggles of children impacted by long Covid and features Avalyn’s personal journey. As Avalyn’s mum, the article’s relevance is especially close - it brings Avalyn’s experiences to light, showing the challenges she and our family have faced and the resilience she has shown.

The article uses Avalyn’s experience as a clear example of how long Covid can change a child’s life overnight, highlighting not just the visible health impacts but also the invisible struggles with isolation, loss of routine, and pursuit of new goals. Her story is one among several that call for more attention, empathy, and action to support young people and families living with long Covid—in schools, in healthcare, and beyond.

For me as Avalyn’s mum, seeing her experience recognised and shared publicly

is both moving and important: it gives voice to what so many families are still quietly fighting, and it shows that behind every “long Covid” headline there are real children, ambitions, hopes and dreams for the future.

We are all grateful for the opportunity to share our experiences and help organisations like Long Covid Kids drive real change in the support available for and understanding of long Covid and its impact on children and young people.