Mekala Osborne: Inspirational East Lothian personal trainer goes back in for another operation on her road to recovery

The operation has been described as a ‘minor setback’ by her step dad Jimmy, who told the Edinburgh Evening News: “Mekala had a lung drain when she was in hospital in Vietnam, and over the year it has gathered some infection.

"They’ve had to operate and clean the inside of her chest wall. It was a wee bit of a shock, but she’s doing well.”

Mekala had the operation on Monday, and messaged her parents on Tuesday morning saying she was doing OK.

Jimmy continued: “Her mum has gone to visit this afternoon but we’re glad she is in good spirits.

"It’s been difficult with this pandemic, especially during lockdown when I think there was about 15 weeks where we couldn’t go and see her and that was difficult for her.

"Now though, her mum can see her a few hours a week.”

Mekala, a 23-year-old personal trainer from Wallyford, was travelling through Vietnam when she started to complain of a sore throat.

After seeing a doctor, she was diagnosed with bronchial pneumonia, and within a few days, was put into an induced coma.

She was given a 5% chance of survival and was transferred to a specialist hospital in Singapore before being transferred back to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Now, just over a year later, she is in the Astley Ainslie to undergo physio to rebuild her muscles.

Jimmy continued: “She has been keeping herself busy. She doesn’t yet have full use of her hands but she’s been doing loads of artsy crafty stuff, like painting stones and drawing and things.

“They’re really good, honestly, really incredible.

"When the weather is nice, she can go outside in her wheelchair, the Astley Ainslie has really beautiful grounds.

"She’s getting people’s messages now too, and reading all the hope and support that she gets has really helped.”

The family are hoping that Mekala will be able to visit home for Christmas, even just for the day.

Jimmy smiled: “She absolutely loves Christmas, she’s just our little girl at heart.”

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