A North Belfast family say they are desperately trying to find help to secure a lung transplant or other life saving treatment for their aunty who is being kept alive on a ventilator in hospital.
Clare Mahon, 44, is currently in intensive care at the Belfast City Hospital where her family are hoping to secure treatment that could keep her alive, with doctors telling them she would pass if the ventilator is turned off.
The mum-of-two has suffered from pulmonary fibrosis or scarring of the lungs, for the past 13 years and was recently admitted to the Mater Hospital after contracting Covid.
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After getting over the virus, she has had to remain in hospital due to the damage in her lungs and has been told that it is likely she will never leave.
Her niece, Cearai Mahon, says that Clare was told at the Mater hospital that she could be a candidate for a lung transplant due to her condition.
But since she has been moved to the City Hospital, she has been told that this is no longer the case and that all doctors can do is "make her comfortable while they turn down the machines".
The family say that it is only Clare's lungs that are in a bad condition and the rest of her body is very healthy, so they are determined to do all they can in order to find a treatment to save her.
Cearai said: "Clare has been suffering with pulmonary fibrosis for the past 13 years and during that time she has not received any real treatment other than codeine to help with the pain.
"A few weeks ago, after she contracted Covid, she was admitted to the Mater Hospital for a number of days in order to try and get through the virus, but even after doing so she has been unable to return home.
"She has been transferred to the City Hospital where she is currently in intensive care on a ventilator and we are being told that there is nothing more that doctors are able to do for her.
"When she was in the Mater, Clare was told that she could be a candidate for a lung transplant due to her condition, but since being transferred we are told that is not the case, even if we go private.
"While Clare has her problems with her lungs, the rest of her body is still very healthy and she has never smoked or drank in her life.
"She is only 44-years-old with two sons who need her and we just cannot accept that there is nothing else that we are able to do.
"We just hope that we are able to get her a transplant or some form of treatment that can save her as soon as possible and will not stop fighting until we do."
The Belfast Trust has said it is unable to comment due to patient confidentiality.
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