Sally Crowe, a Scottish farmer, saw her life transformed after contracting the rare disease Q fever during a holiday in Australia. What began as a severe illness left her bedbound for years, but through perseverance and treatment, she gained a new perspective on life and priorities.
In 2012, while visiting friends working in a sheep-shearing shed in Western Australia, Sally Crowe was exposed to Q fever, an airborne bacterial infection from farm animals. Upon returning to the UK, she experienced debilitating symptoms that doctors initially struggled to diagnose, leading to a long period of uncertainty and suffering.
For 18 months, Sally underwent various tests and was misdiagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME), as her condition worsened to the point where she spent up to 18 hours a day in bed. The rarity of Q fever in Scotland made it difficult for medical professionals to identify, highlighting the challenges of diagnosing obscure illnesses.
After finally being diagnosed with chronic Q fever, which affects only about 5% of those infected, Sally faced limited treatment options locally. Undeterred, she researched online and found a specialist in South Africa, starting a rigorous year-long treatment regimen in 2016 that combined antibiotics and anti-malarial drugs.
The treatment was grueling, with initial months showing little improvement before a breakthrough in the third month. Gradually, Sally regained pieces of her life, learning to manage her energy levels and adapt her farming practices on the 65-acre croft in Caithness that has been in her family since 1972.
The experience profoundly changed Sally’s approach to work and life. She welcomed her son William through IVF in 2019 and now prioritizes spending time with him, balancing physical tasks on the croft with mental work on alternate days to avoid burnout.
Q fever, as explained by the NHS, is a bacterial infection typically harmless but can cause serious issues like flu-like symptoms and, in chronic cases, heart problems. It spreads through contact with infected animals, posing risks to farmers and animal workers, with no licensed vaccine available in the UK.
Today, Sally runs her croft with 60 sheep, nine cows, and hens, focusing on sustainability and family time. She reflects on her journey as a reminder of resilience, using her platform from the BBC show “This Farming Life” to raise awareness about Q fever and the importance of health in farming communities.
Looking ahead, Sally continues to advocate for better understanding and treatment of Q fever, hoping her story inspires others facing similar health battles. Her transformation from a bedbound patient to an active mother and farmer underscores the power of perseverance and the value of life’s simple joys.
