As a 21-year-old talented university student Lucia Widdop should be having the time of her life.
But instead of partying and making plans for fun weekends with her friends she is coping with some of her hair falling out, a serious lack of energy and facing the prospect of an operation on her neck.
Lucia had always suffered from pains in her joints from being a little girl but it wasn’t until last year that she found out she was seriously ill.
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She saw a doctor at Huddersfield University’s campus regarding an exczema complaint and had a blood test in August last year to reveal whether she had any other illnesses.
Watch the journey from St George's Square to Calderdale Royal Infirmay below
It turned out she suffered from primary hyperparathyroidism, a rare hormone disorder which can in the most severe cases lead to patients lapsing into a coma.
She has lost two stones in weight, had some of her hair fall out and has had to visit Huddersfield Royal Infirmary more than a dozen times.
This experience has given her a keen insight into the current debate about its future and the potential transfer of A&E services to Calderdale Royal Hospital (CRH).
READ MORE: Marathon runner saved after double heart attack leads calls to keep A&E
Lucia, who is a final year BA Journalism student, has also had to visit St James’s University, Leeds, for a scan and has had to have over 20 blood tests as well as seeing a kidney specialist.
She said: “I’m getting weaker and weaker. I am being tested for multiple endocrine neoplsia, a condition which can cause deformities with other glands.
“I have already started having problems with my liver and kidneys, it affects your energy levels and you don’t feel like going out. I’ve lost quite a few friends as a result.
“On February 2 at 4pm I’m due to have surgery at Calderdale when a doctor will cut into my neck to cut out one of my glands which is a fairly terrifying prospect.
“More than two weeks ago I was rushed to A&E at HRI on January 7.
“I’d had a phone call to say the levels of calcium in my blood had gone too high and I could have fallen into a coma.”
In the early hours she says she had to be transferred to Calderdale as there was a spare bed there and says even at that time it took half an hour for her to complete the trip.
She said: “Now I wonder if the plans do go ahead would I get there in time. At peak times it can take up to an hour to get to that hospital.
“For me and other seriously ill patients the time involved could be critical. I am completely opposed to what is being proposed and I am scared for the future.
READ MORE: Peter Andre joins host of celebrities backing #HandsoffHRI on Twitter
READ MORE:Print off and display our campaign poster and sign the petition here
“And losing the A&E makes every single, shaky step that I take that much harder.
“I understand cuts might need to be made but an Accident and Emergency service needs to be exactly that.”
Under the proposals life-threatening cases would be treated at Calderdale while a newly-built Huddersfield Royal Infirmary would tackle less serious cases.
Lucia added: “Although I try to get on with life it’s hard, waking up shaking, feeling sick not being able to exercise without my joints freezing, the pain and the sickness that affects me on a daily basis is hard, energy is low and you find yourself planning all of the things you want to do and then knowing that you can’t.”
