Voices from the Shadows

Deaths from ME

‘During the making of this film some of the people shown have deteriorated inexorably.  For many people with ME, time is running out.’ This statement appears at the end of the film. One of the people it refers to was a young woman – Emily Collingridge – who suffered from ME  for most of her life. Emily died last Sunday 18th March 2012 after many years of very severe illness. Tragically, even though she dedicated her life to trying to educate others, she suffered horribly from the lack of expertise or even basic understanding demonstrated by some medical practitioners involved in her care. Emily had a high profile in her fight to publicise the illness and her death will be noted, but there have been other young people who have died without publicity during this same period. Who is counting these deaths from ME ?