Deborah's Story

In a quiet Adelaide suburb, Deborah Smith, a 72-year-old retired nurse, finds herself battling the lingering effects of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) six years after the infection.

As a former nurse, Deborah was no stranger to health challenges. However, nothing could have prepared her for the debilitating impact of severe RSV.

The virus wreaked havoc on her respiratory system, leaving Deborah with pneumonia and a collapsed lower left lung, as well as lasting lung damage.

“RSV has left me with nodules in my lungs and I can’t do anything that quickens my breath,” Deborah said. “Even light exercise is out of the question.”

Prior to contracting RSV, Deborah had been grappling with late-onset asthma, a diagnosis she received in her 60s following an unexpectant asthma attack. Despite successfully managing the condition, the onset of RSV sent Deborah’s lung health spiralling.

What began as a normal day caring for her two-year-old grandchild turned into a life-altering ordeal, leaving Deborah with compromised lung function and shattered dreams of travel.

“My grandson had a runny nose but was going to daycare at the time so I was quite used to him being sniffly,” Deborah said. “Before long, I also had a runny nose, which I never dreamed was the start of a nightmare.”

As the virus took hold, Deborah’s asthma symptoms exacerbated and her husband called an ambulance.

Transported to Flinders Hospital, Deborah found herself confined to an isolation unit, her condition deteriorating rapidly.

During her 8-day hospital stay, Deborah received the diagnosis of severe RSV and pneumonia.

“The whole experience was a haze; I really don’t remember much of it. It was a blur of tests and procedures with a nurse watching over me constantly,” Deborah said.

Since her battle with RSV, Deborah's life has been permanently altered. Once active, she now finds herself limited by the constraints of her damaged lungs and plans for a dream overseas trip have been dashed.

“I’ve waited my whole life to travel to Norway, something I had dreamed of as a child, but it’s not safe for me to travel anymore,” Deborah said.

“RSV has destroyed my dreams and everyday freedoms. I hope no one goes through what I have.”