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I live in Birmingham with my husband and have two grown-up daughters and a grandson. I was diagnosed with common variable immune deficiency (CVID) nearly 11 years ago and I have opted to have my immunoglobulin therapy in hospital. I was a full-time teacher until recently. I realise now that my battle against ill health went on for decades before the cause was finally found. I feel that it is important that we do what we can to support each other. At Heartlands Hospital, patients have come together to form a local group called WMIG (West Midlands Immunology Group) to do just that. We aim to offer peer support for newly diagnosed patients with a variety of primary immune diseases. It is very important in these challenging times for the NHS that local and national groups come together to ensure that we continue to receive the best possible care. I hope that we can raise the profile of these conditions among newly qualified doctors, too. I am very impressed by what PID UK has achieved since its launch in July 2013, and I am delighted to be a part of this organisation as it continues to develop.