Naomi Whittingham

Naomi Whittingham lives in the UK with a severe case of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). She became ill at age 12 with a routine flu-like virus and never recovered.

Media coverage
Emily didn't 'only' have ME

The Telegraph - By: Naomi Whittingham

"Her life was claimed by an illness that, at its most severe, has been compared to Aids and terminal cancer, yet which is trivialised far too often. Right to the end, Emily had to fight against the belief that she 'only' had ME."

What it's like to live with severe ME

The Telegraph - By: Naomi Whittingham

"Ordinarily, illness is measured in days or weeks; and for the unfortunate months or even years. Then there are those of us for whom illness, pain and suffering is measured in decades. This is my twenty-fifth year of being ill: a quarter of a century spent mostly in housebound, bed-bound isolation."

'''Severe ME left me in a world of pain and darkness. 26 years on, why is it still so poorly understood?'''

Open Democracy - By: Naomi Whittingham

"We need to draw attention not only to the illness itself, but the political neglect that allows it to continue destroying lives."

Naomi's story

BBC Radio Bristol - Interview By: John Darvall

"Naomi from Hanham was diagnosed with ME when she was just 12, a condition that for Naomi has controlled her life for the last 25 years.

John Darvall has been to see Naomi and her family to find out the impact it's had."

What M.E?

John Darvall Blog

"When I knocked on the door to interview Naomi I knew little about ME other than its dodgy reputation and the questions about whether it was actually a real illness. When I left Naomi’s parents home where she lives, having spoken to her, her mother and brother for an hour I cried."

Documentary appearance
Naomi appeared in the documentary Voices from the Shadows.

Advocacy
Besides her own interviews and writing about her disease, Naomi supports her brother, Tom Whittingham, with his Marathon fundraising for ME Research UK.

She writes the blog A Life Hidden which is dedicated to those suffering from severe ME.

Online presence

 * Facebook
 * Twitter
 * Website