Clare Adams, 45, from Widnes, was given a prognosis of weeks to months after a holiday in Turkey led to a rare and incurable lung disease. She now relies on a wheelchair and oxygen 24/7, but is fighting for a double lung transplant.
Holiday Flu Triggered Health Decline
Adams fell ill in summer 2023 after returning from Marmaris, Turkey, with influenza. She told the Liverpool Echo: "I went on holiday to Turkey and caught influenza. After coming back, my breathing was really bad. I couldn't breathe at all. I couldn't take two steps without being really breathless." She was hospitalised for a week and treated for flu, but symptoms persisted. Doctors initially suspected long COVID.
Diagnosis of Incurable Condition
In November 2023, Adams was diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a condition where blood pressure in the lung arteries is dangerously high. The NHS describes it as a severe disorder that can weaken the right side of the heart. While flu does not directly cause PAH, it can lead to serious lung complications. Adams said: "It was more of a relief that I knew what was wrong with me. But the biggest shock was when the doctor told me that I couldn't have children. That was the hardest thing to deal with."
Deterioration and Rare Disease Diagnosis
Despite treatment, her condition worsened. By May 2025, she was diagnosed with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD), a rare and life-threatening form of pulmonary hypertension. Doctors gave her weeks to months to live. Adams refused to accept the prognosis: "I just refused point blank. I thought, I'm not letting you decide when I die." She began treatment with epoprostenol to dilate blood vessels and is now seeking a double lung transplant.
Fighting for a Transplant
Adams has lost over a stone in weight and seen slight improvements. She said: "I am in a wheelchair and on oxygen 24/7, having to wear a mask, as my body doesn't hold oxygen at all. I didn't think I was a strong person, but to get through this last year... it's been a steady fight of continuously just laughing through everything, working on my mindset and watching what I eat."
Children's Book to Raise Awareness
Adams is writing a children's book titled My Auntie, based on conversations with her nephew. She said: "One of my nephews broke his kneecap playing rugby. To keep him occupied, I said, 'come on, we'll write a book together about little things that we used to do.'" The book aims to show that despite her appearance, she can still do the same things as any auntie. "It hits children really hard when people are sick. My nieces and nephews have never once treated me any differently. I think the children can teach the adults sometimes."
My Auntie (Adventures with Auntie Cra Cra) is available on Amazon.
