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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Kelly-Ann Mills

Double-lung transplantee has 'list of goodbye calls' in case she gets coronavirus

A double-lung transplantee who knows she will die if she catches coronavirus has written a list of people she'll call to say goodbye to, if an ambulance is called.

Justine Laymond has a permanently compromised immune system following her life-saving transplant back in 2006 and has one of the world's rarest lung diseases.

Speaking to Mirror Online, the 47-year-old said she knows that catching Covid-19 would be "game over" for her, but she is determined to do all she can to stay safe at home.

And she is calling on everyone across the UK to do their bit this weekend and asks anyone thinking of breaking the lockdown to simply "not do it".

She said: "The sun may be shining outside - but darkness will fall on others who may die, if not yourself.

"This is not a movie, it's reality."

Have you got a coronavirus story? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk

Justine Laymond in hospital before her lung transplant back in 2006 (Supplied)

Justine was just hours from dying back in July 2006 when she fought back from being in a three-week coma, spending weeks on life support and 15 lung collapses to be well enough to be put on the transplant list.

Her life was eventually saved when she received the healthy lungs of a 42-year-old man, and she was given another chance at life.

But Justine, who is currently furloughed from her part time job at Hyundai in Chelmsford, admits she is frightened for her health once again.

But after spending two days crying over what the deadly virus could mean for her, Justine picked herself up and decided to fight for her life - by staying safe and self-isolating.

Justine Laymond after she left hospital following her lung transplant (Supplied)

She said: "I'm so frightened. I'm not going out to exercise every day. I need to keep my fitness up so my lungs stay healthy.

"But I know if I do get it, I will die.

"I would fight for my life if I did get it, but I know it will kill me."

Justine, from Rayleigh, Essex added: "I've got my wishes written out. If we have to call an ambulance, I've got a list of people to call to say goodbye to. I've got an emergency bag packed.

"I know if I get this I will die, that's the reality."

Justine wants others to stay home to protect the most vulnerable (Supplied)

Justine, who is self-isolating with partner Tom Hipperson, was left in shock when she was not included in the Government's list of 1.5milllion people most at risk from the virus.

Despite being a transplantee, permanently immuno-compromised and having serious underlying health conditions, she did not get a text to say she would have help getting the vital medicines she takes each day, or have any way of getting food.

After numerous calls to her GP and hospital, she was eventually told her medical records were not accurate and her medical code needed amending so she could be included on the high risk list.

Justine Laymond performs in burlesque drag shows and lives a full life following her transplant (Supplied)

And now she is back to her positive self, doing fitness classes at home and keeping up her hobbies as a drag queen, where she has a large online presence, and keeping busy with cos-play make up and art.

She said: "I know I'm in lockdown for 12 weeks, so you just have to change your mindset.

"After my transplant I spent six months living at Harefield Hospital. I knew that the room was my hostel, the doctors and nurses were my friends and the hospital was my home.

"As soon as you accept the circumstances, you can move forward.

"My mindset is 'I can do this'."

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