A week long audio visual exhibition has launched today in St Ann’s Square in the City Centre
The series of large-scale portraits and downloadable audio stories sees nine individuals who have risen above adversity share their own deeply personal journeys, told in their own words.
The exhibition provides a glimpse into the victories and challenges that have defined their paths towards recovery, with the support of the Manchester Institute of Health & Performance (MIHP)
The Manchester Institute of Health and Performance is a world-class healthcare facility, combining modern diagnostic technology, sports medicine and education.
The project came from working with patients and listening to their stories which deserved to be shared with a wider audience says Dr Davina Deniszczyc, Medical & Charity Director, Nuffield Health
The indviduals tell their stories in their own words, stories that tell of facing severe adversity, but also to share and tell others that they are not alone.
“No matter what you are facing you do not to be alone” is what the organsiers want you to take away from the exhibition
One story is told by Andrea to us who has striggled with Long Covid, catching the virus in the summer of 2021 from her son who returned home from school.”I’m fit, healthy and strong she thought and it doesn’t affect people like me”
But four days later. she ended up in hospital,unable to breathe and told by the doctors that they couldn’t help, sending her home and telling her to work her way through it
It didn’t help, a month later andrea was struggling to maintain any day to day routine feeling exhausted, not being able to look after her sons
Six months later it had caused issued with her heart and her thyroid, but there was nothing the doctors could do to fix any of this she was told
Andrea, getting to the point when she could bearly get out of bed began to search online and came across the Long Covid Rehabilitation programme through MIHP.She fiiled out the application online and within minutes someone had called her back and explained about the course.
Andrea had one to one sessions with a trainer every week,it helped to understand her energy levels and work out what she could do every day.
It was a twelve week programme, the first six at home and the final six at MIHP where she was able to meet others in similar situations to her.
Andrea, although not completely recovered from the effects of Long Covid is back at work, attending the gym four times a week but she still struggles with brain fog and memory issues
Other stories yo can hear at the display include Kieran. whose life was upended when his motorbike met a car at high speed. Driven by the desire to be of support to his family and determined to free himself from pain medication, he embarks on a difficult journey
towards recovery and healing and Julia where a visit to a GP with severe and unexpected pain starts a journey that leads to the edge of uncertainty and disconnection from her busy life. A story of courage and the beauty of finding solace in the little moments.
The exhibition at St Ann’s Square runs until 27th September
