Stairs are a challenge for Carrie MacKay, the Langley woman who has been chronicling her battle with COVID-19 in a series of posts on her .

MacKay shared a video to show the effort it takes her just to go downstairs.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of people think that once I go home, everything is totally back to normal,害羞草研究所� MacKay told the Langley Advance Times in a Tuesday, Feb. 23 interview.

害羞草研究所滻t isn害羞草研究所檛, though. I still get really winded, and struggle to breathe, if I move around or do stairs.害羞草研究所�

She害羞草研究所檚 been told it could be another three months to a year before she has recovered.

害羞草研究所淚 can now walk for six (to) 10 minutes a day and I can stand with the oxygen on for quite a bit longer,害羞草研究所� she related.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 improving more and more every day, building up my strength, (and) I害羞草研究所檓 starting to work on a few design projects from home on my laptop (but) it害羞草研究所檒l still be a while before I can go back to my office in Fort Langley to work full time 害羞草研究所� the portable oxygen tanks will need to go with me there 害羞草研究所� and also, window painting might be a little bit longer, since I don害羞草研究所檛 know when I can climb ladders and load my car with tool boxes and supplies.害羞草研究所�

MacKay is hoping to beat the odds so she can resume kayaking with her dog, as well as hiking, biking, by the summer.

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Friends set up a GoFundMe page, 害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶟 to help with bills and food, which MacKay called 害羞草研究所渟uper awesome.害羞草研究所�

People have been following her story across Canada and in the U.S., she discovered.

害羞草研究所淧eople I don害羞草研究所檛 even know have messaged me on Facebook, messenger or Instagram,害羞草研究所� MacKay described.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of them don害羞草研究所檛 know anyone with COVID and they had no idea the symptoms could be like this - and can害羞草研究所檛 believe what I went through害羞草研究所� and they thank me for sharing. Some people have COVID and message me and ask what to do?

Her advice: 害羞草研究所渘ot to wait at home as long as I did when my fever was so high 害羞草研究所� and to go to the hospital if it gets really bad.害羞草研究所�

For the physically active MacKay, 46, a graphic designer and artist who has no underlying health conditions and doesn害羞草研究所檛 smoke, her encounter with COVID began on Jan. 22, when she began to feel unwell.

Two days later, she was diagnosed with COVID-19, and by Jan, 29, she was admitted to Langley Memorial Hospital, then transferred a few days later to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Abbotsford Regional Hospital.

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In her Facebook postings, MacKay described the impact of the coronavirus, how at at times she was fighting to draw a full breath during her stay in the ICU, and finding it nearly impossible to sleep as a result.