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Chronic Fatigue Recovery Stories
Real Success from Children and Teens with CFS and Long COVID
These chronic fatigue recovery stories show what's truly possible. Each one comes from a young person who faced the challenges of CFS, ME/CFS, or Long COVID - and found a way forward through the New Pathways Programme.
Their journeys offer hope, support, and insight into what recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome in children and teens can look like.
"This programme is literally transforming lives."
For three months Danny couldn’t walk further than 1km without resting. His pulse rate was 70 lying down and rose to 110 on standing, which made him severely dizzy.
“After reading some reviews about the programme I was hopeful for a rapid improvement in my son Danny’s health, but I didn’t quite dare believe it! In fact his improvement was so significant it made me wonder if we had imagined his illness. Danny has now gone back to school and he’s playing tennis again. He isn’t 100% but he is close.
“New Pathways is literally transforming people’s lives. Not only Danny’s life, but mine. I am now sleeping again, the whole family is so much happier.”
Marianne, mother of Danny
“After reading some reviews about the programme I was hopeful for a rapid improvement in my son Danny’s health, but I didn’t quite dare believe it! In fact his improvement was so significant it made me wonder if we had imagined his illness. Danny has now gone back to school and he’s playing tennis again. He isn’t 100% but he is close.
“New Pathways is literally transforming people’s lives. Not only Danny’s life, but mine. I am now sleeping again, the whole family is so much happier.”
Marianne, mother of Danny
"My life has changed immeasurably"
25-year-old Charlotte had suffered with chronic fatigue syndrome since she was 13. Bed bound and unable to put on her socks or brush her teeth most days, she didn’t believe anything could help her.
“I was referred to lots of different specialists for my chronic fatigue, including the school counsellor, a cognitive therapist and even a rehabilitation clinic for people with disabilities. That was a real low point, I thought ‘I can’t do anything with my life, there’s no way out’.
“My parents found Steve’s chronic fatigue recovery stories online and thought I should give the course a go. I felt revitalised after the first day. I couldn’t believe it.
“I discovered what my stress triggers are and now I have the techniques to cope with anything life throws at me.
“I’ve gone from not being able to hold down a job and feeling like I had no prospects, to joining a gym, meeting a partner, moving into our own house together and getting a new job. I’ve even started to make friends, something I always struggled with.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without Steve. My doctors told me that I just had to live with CFS, but I didn’t have to.”
“I was referred to lots of different specialists for my chronic fatigue, including the school counsellor, a cognitive therapist and even a rehabilitation clinic for people with disabilities. That was a real low point, I thought ‘I can’t do anything with my life, there’s no way out’.
“My parents found Steve’s chronic fatigue recovery stories online and thought I should give the course a go. I felt revitalised after the first day. I couldn’t believe it.
“I discovered what my stress triggers are and now I have the techniques to cope with anything life throws at me.
“I’ve gone from not being able to hold down a job and feeling like I had no prospects, to joining a gym, meeting a partner, moving into our own house together and getting a new job. I’ve even started to make friends, something I always struggled with.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without Steve. My doctors told me that I just had to live with CFS, but I didn’t have to.”
“Take the leap and take this course"
22-year-old student Lucy had always been fit and active, and had a real passion for running. But after moving to Edinburgh for university, her rigorous training regime took its toll on her health and her body started to shut down.
“My runs and sessions were becoming slower, I had headaches after running and I was crashing completely – I had no energy to stay awake and my whole body would go cold.
“Iron deficiency and Lyme’s disease were ruled out by the GP, but no one gave me real answers or help. All doctors could advise was to rest.
“After a year of consistently feeling awful, I found Steve’s website. It was a big investment and we were worried it wasn’t going to work but simply put, working with Steve was life changing. I finally understood what happened to my body and I came away with a renewed mindset.
“To succeed in getting better takes dedication and patience. It hasn’t always been easy. But thanks to Steve my life is enjoyable again and I’m treasuring every moment I feel good.
“If you are reading this and wondering if you should do the programme, I’d say take the leap. You never know where you could be in a few months’ time.”
“My runs and sessions were becoming slower, I had headaches after running and I was crashing completely – I had no energy to stay awake and my whole body would go cold.
“Iron deficiency and Lyme’s disease were ruled out by the GP, but no one gave me real answers or help. All doctors could advise was to rest.
“After a year of consistently feeling awful, I found Steve’s website. It was a big investment and we were worried it wasn’t going to work but simply put, working with Steve was life changing. I finally understood what happened to my body and I came away with a renewed mindset.
“To succeed in getting better takes dedication and patience. It hasn’t always been easy. But thanks to Steve my life is enjoyable again and I’m treasuring every moment I feel good.
“If you are reading this and wondering if you should do the programme, I’d say take the leap. You never know where you could be in a few months’ time.”
“I like miracles, especially when they are based on sound science and common sense.”
Elena had been ill with severe ME for over a year when New Pathways gave her a toolkit to make herself better.
“It was an enlightened understanding of what causes chronic illness. On the patient’s side, you have to be prepared to put in the work, and to hear a different take on why you might be ill. My daughter and the two other people on her course did that and I saw first-hand how they got their lives back.
“I have no words to express my gratitude for my beautiful daughter’s return to health. It is utterly wonderful to have her back and see her running full pelt down the street laughing her head off with her sister!”
Liz, mother of 15 year old Elena
“It was an enlightened understanding of what causes chronic illness. On the patient’s side, you have to be prepared to put in the work, and to hear a different take on why you might be ill. My daughter and the two other people on her course did that and I saw first-hand how they got their lives back.
“I have no words to express my gratitude for my beautiful daughter’s return to health. It is utterly wonderful to have her back and see her running full pelt down the street laughing her head off with her sister!”
Liz, mother of 15 year old Elena
“Long Covid is no longer dictating what I do”
When Aaron caught COVID-19 in March 2022, he had to hit the brakes on his passion for cycling and just being a normal, sociable teenager as Long Covid took over his life.
“After catching Covid I expected I would be back to normal in no time. But I wasn’t. I was breathless, fatigued and my heart rate was off. Cycling and seeing my friends made me so tired.
“After a year of living with Long Covid, I took part in the New Pathways course over Zoom. After the first few sessions, I got a better picture of how it was going to help me. It was a relief as I felt like I didn’t have to stress about Long Covid anymore. A week or so later, I started going out on my bike again.
“I think it would be weird if you weren’t sceptical about the programme as it’s such a different concept for treating Long Covid but you should give it a go.
“I’m now back to cycling five times a week and fitting in the gym where I can. I’d say my health is a 9/10. I’m at college doing my A-levels and I go out when I want. Long Covid is no longer dictating what I do.”
“After catching Covid I expected I would be back to normal in no time. But I wasn’t. I was breathless, fatigued and my heart rate was off. Cycling and seeing my friends made me so tired.
“After a year of living with Long Covid, I took part in the New Pathways course over Zoom. After the first few sessions, I got a better picture of how it was going to help me. It was a relief as I felt like I didn’t have to stress about Long Covid anymore. A week or so later, I started going out on my bike again.
“I think it would be weird if you weren’t sceptical about the programme as it’s such a different concept for treating Long Covid but you should give it a go.
“I’m now back to cycling five times a week and fitting in the gym where I can. I’d say my health is a 9/10. I’m at college doing my A-levels and I go out when I want. Long Covid is no longer dictating what I do.”
"She is a different child"
“Before we started working with Steve, our daughter Emily was going to school for one hour, two or three times a week. She wouldn’t go to after school activities, or to any of her friends’ houses or parties.
“The situation had been going on for over two years and we felt like it would never end. I was so desperate I didn’t think anything would help.
“Since working with Steve, Emily goes to school every day. She goes for a minimum of one hour, but that is only occasionally. She generally goes in at 12, has lunch with friends in a crowded hall which she used to hate and plays outside (she used to stay in and read). She goes to friends’ houses, school discos and parties without me.
“She is a different child. Emily has also stopped taking her pain medication as she says she doesn’t need it. She rarely cries and is always happy. We are hopeful she will steadily increase her time at school.
“The techniques Emily and I have been taught changed her life and we will be forever grateful.”
Gail, mother to Emily who was just 9 when she started working with Steve.
“The situation had been going on for over two years and we felt like it would never end. I was so desperate I didn’t think anything would help.
“Since working with Steve, Emily goes to school every day. She goes for a minimum of one hour, but that is only occasionally. She generally goes in at 12, has lunch with friends in a crowded hall which she used to hate and plays outside (she used to stay in and read). She goes to friends’ houses, school discos and parties without me.
“She is a different child. Emily has also stopped taking her pain medication as she says she doesn’t need it. She rarely cries and is always happy. We are hopeful she will steadily increase her time at school.
“The techniques Emily and I have been taught changed her life and we will be forever grateful.”
Gail, mother to Emily who was just 9 when she started working with Steve.
"It was almost like a magic trick"
23-year-old Tyler Woodstock was enjoying life as a student in Birmingham until he contracted glandular fever.
“I thought it was just flu and that I would shake it off in a few days. But months later, I still wasn’t feeling any better. I took a year off my uni course to get myself well. New Pathways pulled back the curtain on the connection between the body and mind. It took a few sessions before I saw any difference but then it became very noticeable that I was better. I used to be on a three-week cycle of feeling better and then crashing, but then I felt better and… no crash.
“I’m now back at uni full time and I’m planning to travel next summer to South America!”
“I thought it was just flu and that I would shake it off in a few days. But months later, I still wasn’t feeling any better. I took a year off my uni course to get myself well. New Pathways pulled back the curtain on the connection between the body and mind. It took a few sessions before I saw any difference but then it became very noticeable that I was better. I used to be on a three-week cycle of feeling better and then crashing, but then I felt better and… no crash.
“I’m now back at uni full time and I’m planning to travel next summer to South America!”
"The New Pathways Programme has been a life saver"
From running and swimming champion to being unable to walk from the sofa to the fridge, Long Covid turned 12-year-old Frankie’s world upside down. But nine months after taking part in the New Pathways programme, Frankie’s now running down the road to recovery.
“Like most parents with a child with Long Covid, we started looking online for advice. My husband was trawling the internet for a ‘miracle cure’ when he found the New Pathways website. We contacted Steve and he was so reassuring, and he was friendly, encouraging and supportive of Frankie.
“Once Frankie started using the techniques, she gradually started getting better. She journalled her achievements and you could see in black and white how much she was improving. Frankie was soon able to build up to half days at school, and by the summer holidays, I said to her ‘you don’t have Long Covid anymore’.
“The tools and skills Frankie’s learned helped her overcome Long Covid, and she can also use them in the future for exams and work.”
Becky, mother of 12-year-old Frankie
“Like most parents with a child with Long Covid, we started looking online for advice. My husband was trawling the internet for a ‘miracle cure’ when he found the New Pathways website. We contacted Steve and he was so reassuring, and he was friendly, encouraging and supportive of Frankie.
“Once Frankie started using the techniques, she gradually started getting better. She journalled her achievements and you could see in black and white how much she was improving. Frankie was soon able to build up to half days at school, and by the summer holidays, I said to her ‘you don’t have Long Covid anymore’.
“The tools and skills Frankie’s learned helped her overcome Long Covid, and she can also use them in the future for exams and work.”
Becky, mother of 12-year-old Frankie
"I can finally hug my son"
14-year-old Sam had battled complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) as well as chronic fatigue syndrome and extreme hypermobility syndrome for many years. His CRPS condition caused him to suffer persistent burning pain in his limbs, which forced him to leave school and study at home.
But after working with Steve, Sam made a full recovery and got his life back. He returned to school and he could finally enjoy hugs with his family, which were previously too painful to bear.
His mum Emma said: “To be rid of the pain he felt every day after just a three-day training course is absolutely amazing. We walked the dog which is something we have not done for at least 18 months and he asked,’ “can I go for a run?” ‘I said “of course you can” with a big lump in my throat. He came back and said “something has really changed, I don’t feel like I have just run a marathon”.
Since his treatment, Sam has stopped taking daily painkillers and medication. His mum says it is just nice to see Sam confident again and that he is growing into the man he was always meant to be.
Sam is now looking forward to just living a ‘normal life’ with his family and friends. He said: “Everyone at school was really pleased to see me back. I just want to live life and be happy.”
But after working with Steve, Sam made a full recovery and got his life back. He returned to school and he could finally enjoy hugs with his family, which were previously too painful to bear.
His mum Emma said: “To be rid of the pain he felt every day after just a three-day training course is absolutely amazing. We walked the dog which is something we have not done for at least 18 months and he asked,’ “can I go for a run?” ‘I said “of course you can” with a big lump in my throat. He came back and said “something has really changed, I don’t feel like I have just run a marathon”.
Since his treatment, Sam has stopped taking daily painkillers and medication. His mum says it is just nice to see Sam confident again and that he is growing into the man he was always meant to be.
Sam is now looking forward to just living a ‘normal life’ with his family and friends. He said: “Everyone at school was really pleased to see me back. I just want to live life and be happy.”
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