Two years ago, our lives changed completely.

My wife Johanna is a warm, kind, and devoted mum to our two little boys (5 and 3). Before all this, she was full of life — she loved playing with the kids, exploring nature, and caring for our home. But after multiple COVID infections, her health began to slowly unravel. At first, we thought it was just exhaustion from parenting young kids. We had no idea what was coming.

For many people, COVID eventually passes, and life goes back to normal. But for a small group, the virus leaves lasting damage. This is what’s often called Long COVID — when the body doesn’t fully recover and instead enters a prolonged state of illness.

In the worst cases, like my wife, Long COVID can affect multiple systems in the body at once. Ongoing inflammation and immune system problems can cause the blood to behave abnormally, leading to the formation of tiny clots (called microclots) that block the flow of oxygen to tissues. Over time, this can leave people feeling constantly exhausted, breathless, and foggy, as if their body is running on empty.

In late 2024, she suffered a major crash that left her bedridden for three days. After months of tests and specialist visits, she was diagnosed with ME/CFS (exhaustion), Fibromyalgia (constant pain), and Dysautonomia (high heart rate, fainting and dizziness when standing up). Then, earlier this year, doctors discovered she also has a serious heart condition (high Lipoprotein A). (Medical definitions below).

This is what has happened to my wife. Her body is stuck in this constant state of overdrive and struggle, and instead of healing, things have slowly gotten worse.

There is currently no cure for any of these conditions.

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️ Her Daily Reality Now

She spends up to 90% of her day in bed.

Simply standing makes her heart rate soar to 115 beats per minute — just from being upright.

Walking 200 meters, cooking a meal, or even caring for the kids has become almost impossible.

She desperately wants to be the active mum she once was, but her body simply won’t let her.

She can’t work, and despite our efforts, we’ve been denied government support. Each day, I watch the woman I love fight to hold on, while also trying to care for our children and keep our family afloat.

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‍♂️ The Impact on Our Family

I’m now the sole provider for our family, and with no relatives nearby in Australia, we face this alone.

I love my wife and our children deeply, but balancing full-time work, financial pressure, house chores, and parenting two young boys has become overwhelming.

More than anything, my heart aches seeing her fade — knowing there might be hope, but it’s just out of reach financially.

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✨ A Ray of Hope: Apheresis Treatment in Cyprus

After trying every available treatment in Australia (both traditional and alternative) with no improvement, we found a promising therapy overseas: apheresis (a medical process where the blood is taken out, a is removed, filtered, and put back into the body). To know more: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-02084-1

Several patients with similar conditions have experienced significant improvement after receiving this treatment. Cyprus offers one of the most affordable and reputable clinics in the world, and we’ve spoken directly to people who say it gave them their lives back. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-16/children-with-long-covid-dismissed-doctors-myth-virus-harmless/103959078

But the cost is beyond what we can manage on our own. We’ve already exhausted most of our savings trying to help her.

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The Cost Breakdown

To cover flights, accommodation, food, and six weeks of treatment, we need to raise around $54,000 AUD.

This includes:

• ✈️ Flights: €1,500

• Accommodation (6 weeks): €5,500

• Apheresis treatment: €14,000 (7 sessions)

• Other medical costs: €5,000

• ️ Food & transport: €1,500

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❤️ How You Can Help

We are not the type of family to ask for help easily. But we’ve reached a point where this treatment may be our last real chance to restore my wife’s health and give our children their mum back.

Any contribution — big or small — will make a difference. Even sharing this campaign with others helps more than you can imagine.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading our story. Your kindness could help bring my wife back to us, and give our children the healthy, loving mum they deserve.

Please help us give her a second chance at life.

Medical definitions:

ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) means she lives with a crushing, relentless exhaustion that sleep can’t fix. Even small everyday tasks—like getting dressed, walking a few steps, or talking for too long—can completely drain her and leave her bedridden for days.

Fibromyalgia brings constant pain throughout her entire body, along with deep fatigue and “brain fog” that makes it hard to think clearly. Some days, even a gentle hug can hurt.

Dysautonomia affects the body’s automatic functions, like heart rate and blood pressure. For her, something as simple as standing up can make her heart race and leave her dizzy, lightheaded, and at risk of fainting.

On top of all this, earlier this year doctors discovered she has dangerously high Lipoprotein(a), a genetic heart condition that increases the risk of serious heart problems. There’s currently no reliable treatment to lower it.