EBOLA nurse Pauline Cafferkey has arrived back in Scotland after completing an emotional return to Sierra Leone.
The 42-year-old contracted the deadly virus in the West African country in December 2014 and had initially recovered before suffering a relapse which led to meningitis and seriously affected her joints and ability to walk.
Putting aside three difficult years, Pauline bravely decided to return to see how the country she tried to help was recovering post-Ebola.
Exhausted after travelling for 24 hours to return to Glasgow, Pauline said she hoped her trip would encourage more people to help Ebola’s forgotten orphans.
“The most emotional thing was meeting Ebola orphans and survivors and seeing how they don’t have the luxury of moving on,” she said.
“The more I thought about coming back the more I wanted to – to put all the pieces together.
“All the stuff that happened started here and I wanted it to end here too.”
The epidemic, which also spread into Liberia and Guinea, killed 11,000 people.
UK charity Street Child has helped 12,000 Ebola orphans but estimates a further 1400 are struggling to survive.
Pauline travelled with the charity for her recent trip and was so keen to go she paid for the flights herself.
She added: “I am glad I went back to Sierra Leone because it feels like it has helped me to close a chapter in my life.”
Pauline is fundraising to help Street Child support 1400 Ebola orphans who are in urgent need. Sponsor her at street-child.co.uk.
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