More than 1,000 people have signed a petition in support of a North Belfast mum who is in desperate need of a lung transplant.
For the past five weeks, mum of two Clare Mahon has been in intensive care following a deterioration in her pulmonary fibrosis brought on by a Covid infection.
While the 44-year-old has been using a ventilator to breathe during this time, her family say that her condition is slowly improving and that other than her lungs, the rest of her body is perfectly healthy.
Read more: North Belfast family desperate for lung transplant to help 'dying aunty'
Clare's pulmonary fibrosis or scarring of the lungs, developed 13 years ago due to a feather allergy that she was unaware of and the use of a feather duvet.
Speaking to Belfast Live, her niece Cearai Mahon said that Clare is in desperate need of a lung transplant as a result of her condition and despite being previously told that she would be a candidate for the operation, she is currently being denied it.
She said: "Over the past few weeks Clare's lung condition has slowly been improving and she has been able to have short periods off of the ventilator along with being taken outside to use it, which was a big step for her.
"But other than the issues with her lungs, the rest of her body is very healthy and she is able to communicate with us and her movement is getting better every week.
"She is fighting so hard to improve her condition and the doctors and nurses have seen that and have been shocked by how she is refusing to give up.
"But unless she is able to get a lung transplant or some other form of specialist treatment she is unlikely to make a proper recovery and we have been begging the trust for this operation, because she was previously considered to be a candidate for it."
The Mahon family have started a petition in an effort to gain support for the mum of two to get a lung transplant, which has since been signed by over 1,200 people.
Cearai continued: "We are trying to show the health trust just how much support Clare has and how many people would like to see her get this life-changing transplant and we are so thankful to everyone who has signed it and supported her so far.
"Clare still has her whole life ahead of her with two boys to care for and a loving partner and as a family we will do anything that we can for her to get the treatment and help that she needs."
If you would like to support the Mahon family's petition, please follow this link: https://www.change.org/p/double-lung-transplant
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