Inspirational Mekala Osborne taking steps '289 days' after nightmare Vietnam trip infection took her ability to walk

Inspirational Mekala Osborne has taken her first steps after she contracted a deadly strain of pneumonia on holiday of a lifetime last year
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

An East Lothian personal trainer who contracted a near-fatal bout of pneumonia while on a dream holiday in Vietnam last September has taken her first steps 289 days after contracting the illness.

Mekala Osborne, 22, only began breathing unaided in March this year and moved to rehabilitation at the Astley Ainslie Hospital in the same month, yesterday a video was shared by Radio Saltire of her as she took her first steps out of her wheelchair, aided by medical staff.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Scot can seen to be beaming as she stands determinedly to move her legs in front of each other, making small steps across the floor in the hospital as medical staff help her slowly but surely.

Inspirational Mekala shared the footage with her loved onesInspirational Mekala shared the footage with her loved ones
Inspirational Mekala shared the footage with her loved ones

The incredible progress comes just weeks after she could move around in her wheelchair without help for the first time.

When Mekala fell ill last September, she initially thought the infection was a sore throat which she was initially treating with Strepsils.

However she was left fighting for her life with just a five per cent chance of survival after the bronchial pneumonia worsened and her family were told to ‘pray she survives’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mekala’s 10 month recovery has seen her spend two months in a specialist unit in Da Nang, Vietnam and almost a fortnight in an induced coma.

She then spent a further 117 days in Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary on a trache supporting her breathing and building up her strength before moving to the Astley Ainslie to work with occupational therapists earlier this year.

Speaking about her daughter’s recovery Mekala’s mother, Yvonne McAulay said: “Mekala got us both together and said she wanted to show us something, fortunately her Granny was here too, whom she is very, very close to. She sent us the video and whilst we were on FaceTime with her we watched it.

“There wasn't a dry eye in the house, we were all, saying ‘go on toots, go on you can do this’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Obviously she had as it was a video but it really felt like we were there beside her. We were literally taking every step with her. Truly amazing and so so proud of her.

“Lockdown really worried us as we were scared regarding her mental health as we couldn't visit. We haven't seen her for nearly 15 weeks. But thankfully being the type of person she is, Mekala has put all her efforts into her physio and from what we seen yesterday it's certainly paying off.

“Again we would we like to thank Davie Martin and everyone at Radio Saltire for their continued support as well as family and friends. We keep in touch with Dr Jong and keep everyone at EMA and Mount Elizabeth, Singapore with her progress. Also our amazing Community whom without their help this wouldn't be possible.”

Related topics: