Emily Collingridge

Emily's Book: Severe ME/CFS: A Guide to Living
Synopsis: "This book provides help to patients with severe ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) as well as the loved ones and professionals caring for them.

This comprehensive reference book has been written by Emily Collingridge, a patient with over twelve years experience of severe ME, in consultation with over thirty patients, carers, friends, relatives and health professionals. Although published by the Association of Young People with ME (known as AYME) as well as containing advice for children and young people, the entire book is suitable for adults of all ages. A4 in size, there are over 130 jam packed pages with guidance on every conceivable area of life with severe ME as well as specific help for carers, partners, siblings, parents, grandparents, friends, doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, speech language therapists, psychologists, social workers and home tutors."

Media Covers Her Struggles After Her Death
ME is often dismissed – but sufferers like Emily Collingridge are dying

Article: The Guardian "On Sunday 18 March, Emily Collingridge, a beautiful 30-year-old activist and author, died after she was apparently no longer able to struggle against the chronic illness that had afflicted her since she was six. Major news organisations have all but ignored her death – the death of a noteworthy campaigner while suffering from the very condition she tried to persuade the world actually existed – just as they continually ignore so many important stories about the illness she had.

That illness is a neurological condition called myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME. There are many who think it is not real and many others, even within the medical profession, who think it is a psychological condition best treated with enforced exercise, which only worsens its effects. Even those doctors and lay people who acknowledge the illness often refer to it by the ridiculous name "chronic fatigue syndrome", which is almost as damaging to ME sufferers as the symptoms we suffer."

Emily didn’t 'only’ have ME

Article: The Telegraph "Exactly a month ago today, an inquest ruled that Emily Collingridge, an ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) sufferer, died from the side-effects of prescription drugs she was taking to alleviate her terrible pain.

Emily had an extreme form of ME, one that is little recognised by doctors and arguably neglected in the NHS. But her death in March last year, aged 30, highlights the grim reality for those afflicted by it.

Like me, Emily had suffered from ME since childhood and we were friends for many years. We were never well enough to meet, but built a strong bond through texts, emails and letters. Her small relief from her living hell was her BlackBerry. With hands twisted by spasms and eyes that struggled to focus, she painfully typed out messages to others with ME. She worked hard to improve understanding of ME and was the author of a highly acclaimed book for those severely affected."

Advocate Groups Report On Emily's Life and Death
Emily Collingridge, 1981-2012: such a short life, such a huge legacy

Article: ME Association "Emily Collingridge, who died in hospital on Sunday at the age of 30, had hardly lived – but she leaves a huge legacy.

It will endure in the form of ‘Severe ME/CFS: A Guide to Living’, the 140-page book which she researched and compiled when all the health odds were stacked against her. It’s been on the ME Association’s highly recommended list since it was first published two years ago."

Emily Rose Collingridge, 1981-2012

Article: ME/CFS Australia "Today I heard the very sad news that Emily Collingridge, the author of the book Severe ME/CFS: A Guide to Living, had died. She passed away in hospital last Sunday afternoon, after a long admission. She was 30 years old and had been bedridden since her late teens, during which she had worked in a voluntary capacity for AYME (the Association for Young People with ME) and the family support charity, Home-Start. She did both of these jobs from her bed, but was forced to stop when she suffered a devastating relapse in 2005."

ME Awareness: Emily Collingridge’s appeal
"This article is an open letter by Emily Collingridge (right), who is best known as the author of Severe ME/CFS: A Guide to Living, a guide for patients and those involved in caring for them to the various aspects of life with severe ME. Emily has had ME for 24 years, since she was just six years old, and in the last few years has been bedridden and suffered numerous major health crises; she is probably one of the worst-affected people right now."