A mother who developed pneumonia at age 14, leading to life-threatening sepsis, a collapsed lung, and a two-week induced coma, has revealed that the lasting damage means she now endures up to twelve infections every year.
Claire's Story
Claire Smith, 38, a midwife from Dudley in the West Midlands, said this frequency of infections is attributable to her diagnosis of bronchiectasis – a long-term condition where the airways in the lungs become damaged, causing a build-up of phlegm that makes it easier for bacteria to become trapped in the airways, according to the charity Asthma + Lung.
Lung Function and Fitness Journey
Her respiratory condition means Claire now has only 50% lung function. While she initially struggled with basic exercise such as climbing stairs or playing football, she said taking up weightlifting in her early 30s and then running at 36 gave her more confidence with fitness. Since then, she has completed a 50km trek across the Sahara desert in October last year and the TCS London Marathon in April, tackling the latter in memory of her mother, Margaret O'Sullivan, who died in May 2025 at 68 after her own diagnosis of bronchiectasis and emphysema.
Claire told PA Real Life: "If I'd let this defeat me, my lungs could be in a very different way right now and I probably wouldn't be the active mum that I am. I want to have a good future with my children and I want to run around with my grandchildren. I think everybody deserves that."
Pneumonia Onset and Coma
Claire explained that her pneumonia at age 14 began with flu-like symptoms that persisted for a week, leading to a week-long course of antibiotics. Despite taking the medication, she felt progressively worse, was lethargic, and was in and out of consciousness. On the day she was hospitalised during the February school holidays in 2002, she had been staying with her father and stepmother, though both were at work. Her stepmother called to check on her and found her delirious, then called an ambulance and rushed home. Claire recalled: "I only really remember the paramedics coming in and carrying me down the stairs. I remember getting into New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton and there was lots of stuff over me. Then the next thing I know, I went to sleep."
Claire was placed in an induced coma after doctors discovered she had life-threatening sepsis and her right lung had collapsed, necessitating a ventilator. She added: "They prepared my parents for the worst a few times while I was in a coma because there were two different bacterial infections that overwhelmed my body and my organs were shutting down."
Recovery and Diagnosis
When Claire finally came round, her mother Margaret was at her bedside. After the coma, Claire suffered from pressure sores and muscle wastage, requiring physiotherapy to regain the ability to walk. She remained in hospital for a month and then spent six months receiving home-schooling. Follow-up examinations revealed her chronic diagnosis of bronchiectasis, managed with antibiotics and steroids for two months. Claire said: "Being young, you take things on the chin more, so you're more resilient." She suffered side effects from steroids, including nausea, tiredness, and swelling, leaving her looking moon-faced.
Living with Bronchiectasis
Ever since, Claire struggled to exercise and was considered high-risk, requiring close monitoring during her first pregnancy at age 20 with her son Tyler, now 17. She had only a few infections during that pregnancy and was reclassified as low-risk for subsequent children Kian, 11, and Freya, six. Over 24 years since diagnosis, she has endured near-constant chest infections and required regular check-ups. Claire said: "Last year, I had 11 courses of antibiotics and I had to send off around nine different mucus samples. It's just about catching it quickly, which I think I've got better at doing the older I've got."
Career and Fitness Transformation
Claire originally trained as a nurse before transitioning to midwifery. Learning more about the body and healthcare prompted her to investigate her condition further. She pushed past her reluctance to exercise, driven by fear of breathlessness, and took up weightlifting in her early 30s, eventually progressing to running by her mid-30s.
Mother's Illness and Marathon Promise
During this period, her mother Margaret was diagnosed with emphysema in March 2023 – a COPD condition where nine out of 10 people have a history of smoking, according to Asthma + Lung – yet Margaret had never smoked. She was later diagnosed with bronchiectasis in March 2024. Claire said: "There was never really a conversation with us about how serious mum's condition was. You're holding on to hope, but you also need to be there to prepare them for what might happen." Around December 2024, doctors diagnosed Margaret with a rare form of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Prior to Margaret's passing in May 2025, Claire promised to run the London Marathon in her honour. After extensive preparation – including a gruelling 50km trek across the Sahara in October – Claire crossed the finish line of her first marathon alongside her husband Matthew, both wearing pictures of Margaret on their running tops. Claire said: "She's had my back all the way and she's always been my biggest supporter, so I had to have her with me."
