MICHELE Simmons’s whole family has been hit by a Covid-19 nightmare.

Mum-of-one Michele, 52, has the virus, and pneumonia on top of that. Yet she has had to discharge herself from Basildon Hospital so her husband Tony, 44, could be rushed in. He was in even worse shape than her, and someone had to be at home to care for their 12-year-old son Matthew, who also has Covid-19. Michele, of Chestnut Avenue, Billericay, is speaking out because she fears too many people are not taking warnings and the Tier system seriously enough, and will therefore willingly break the advice over Christmas.

Since the start I’ve heard the scepticism, and had initially been drawn into it.‘It’s a control thing, so we can all be track and traced’. ‘It’s only the elderly and those with underlining health conditions who get it bad...’

My family took great precautions. We took this very seriously from the start, we were very strict, saw no one and sanitised everything. Even took our son out of school and didn’t let him return until June.

During the summer we didn’t actually know anyone who had tested positive, although last November a couple of family members were very ill, but we thought it was flu. Some friends had milder symptoms back in March too.

I did socialise a little, but Tony was very serious, not going to any shops, working from home and hardly socialising.

Our last time out was on his birthday with just his parents. Normally it would be a big family affair.

Shortly after we went into Tier 3. We stayed at home apart from Matthew who was going school.

Then a month later just before going back to Tier 2, Matthew caught Covid. It must have been from school. Fortunately, he just had the sniffles. On the precaution side we got him tested as we were due to be out on his 12th birthday with some friends and family, to eat outside, abiding by the table of 6 rule. Thank God we did.

So, I thought I may as well get tested too and found out I too had it. Tony got tested and he was negative.

I started to get headaches and had a little cough but wasn’t too bad. However my friend and sister-in-law who caught it at the same time, were in bed, wiped out for days. They soon recovered, but I got worse.

Headaches, weakness and nausea. By day seven I had a temperature and was getting weaker, couldn’t sleep and stopped eating.

Then Tony started getting a cough. So he went and got tested again. Now he was positive. By day ten, I called 111 and was admitted into hospital, I had Covid pneumonia. I had to be aided by oxygen and thankfully responded well to the steroids and drugs. The staff were fantastic at Basildon Hospital. However, back at home Tony was getting worse.

I was having to talk him through how to try get his temperature down, what tablets to take and when. Guiding Matthew from my hospital bed on how best to support his dad.

No one could obviously come around to help.

By last Monday morning Tony was so poorly I got him to call an ambulance.

I was still in hospital, but breathing without aid for a day, so I decided to fast-track myself back home.

What else could I do?

Tony was in A&E for nine hours, but was discharged to go home and rest. When I left that morning there were 60 Covid patients waiting for a bed. It was obvious the virus was out of control. This new strain is clearly affecting younger people more seriously as well.

Over the next 24 hours I monitored Tony’s temperature and oxygen levels and he was getting worse so like myself (day ten) I called an ambulance again. He had so many symptoms now. They sent a paramedic who agreed it would be quicker if I drove him to Basildon. He had to wait eight hours and during this time his breathing deteriorated.

He too caught Covid pneumonia. He was taken onto a respiratory ward and is being aided with ten litres of oxygen. He is very poorly, but fighting this.

I’m telling our story in the hope people will act accordingly.

Some of you reading this may be disappointed we have now gone into Tier 4 and are now not able to celebrate Christmas with your family. Or you bought too much food, can’t get your hair done, etc.

But people must get perspective.

Matthew and I will not be seeing Tony this Christmas. But we want to see him afterwards. We want him home.

My plea is to those not taking this seriously enough already, to please act now.

If my speaking out makes one family member think, stop, change something to help prevent the spread of this horrible virus then all to the good.

The NHS is over-stretched, that was plain to see in Basildon Hospital.

I’m left praying Tony is strong enough to fight this, but it’s bound to be a long recovery.

This disease is deadly - and attacks the lungs so hard. I will be having my chest X-ray in five weeks to get the results of how this has affected me long-term.

So please, I just want families to put Christmas into perspective, and not have to endure the living nightmare my family is having to endure at the moment.”

Michele was speaking to Echo head of content Gary Pearson.