Shalisha Kennedy, a prison system worker from Atlanta, Georgia, initially misattributed her COVID-19 symptoms to seasonal allergies in April 2020, but as her condition worsened, she sought medical help due to debilitating fatigue and shortness of breath.

Clinician-scientists at Johns Hopkins are working to uncover the underlying biology of Long COVID and reshape perceptions of post-viral illness, contributing to life-saving discoveries.

Despite being diagnosed with a low-grade fever and sent home, Shalisha's health deteriorated, leading to the development of blood clots in her lungs by September 2020, while local doctors dismissed her ongoing fatigue as stress-related.

In 2022, after moving to Maryland, Shalisha began treatment with Dr. Alba Azola at Johns Hopkins Medicine, who was the first to take her symptoms seriously and accurately diagnosed her with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, both linked to Long COVID.

Dr. Azola's care provided Shalisha not only with medical support but also with hope, marking a significant turning point in her recovery journey.

Receiving comprehensive care at Johns Hopkins has allowed Shalisha to actively participate in clinical research, contributing to the understanding and treatment of Long COVID for others still seeking answers.

The article emphasizes that Long COVID is not rare or temporary, highlighting the urgent need for further research to better understand and treat this widespread and disabling condition.

Long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), affects over 400 million people globally, causing life-altering symptoms that can last for months or years.