Carrie Johnson has revealed she was hospitalised after battling an 18-day illness over the festive period. The mum-of-three, 36, took to Instagram on Saturday to share that she had been admitted to hospital for “nearly a week” following a chest infection that left her struggling to breathe.
During her stay, she was diagnosed with flu and pneumonia. Sharing a picture of herself in her hospital bed, she wrote: “I didn’t expect to spend the first week of 2025 in hospital. After having a nasty chest infection for nearly 18 days at home over Christmas, it just got out of hand, and I was struggling to breathe properly.
“Hospital confirmed I had flu and pneumonia. I was there nearly a week, and I’m still not recovered.
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“It could take another few weeks until I feel like myself again. The reason for this post, though, is: 1) NHS doctors and nurses are the best people on earth.
“I say it a lot, but they have looked after me and my family when we’ve needed it most, and I will never not be enormously grateful. They are the absolute best of us.”
Carrie also shared a touching moment when a nurse lifted her spirits by singing to her during a “low point”. She added: “2) Obviously, check with your doctor, but my strong advice is to get the b***** flu jab.
“I really, really wish I had. It totally slipped my mind this year. No guarantee, but I very possibly wouldn’t have spent the last three weeks horribly, horribly ill had I got it.”
Carrie then shared a touching insight into how her two eldest children, Wilfred, four, and Romy, three, helped her during her tough ordeal. Alongside a photo, she revealed that she was accompanied by “Greenie,” a cherished dinosaur toy belonging to Wilf which was one of his favourites, and “Romy’s princess key ring,” a keepsake from her daughter meant to offer comfort while in hospital.
“Health and family are everything [red love heart emoji],” she wrote.