A Beautiful Story Amidst Terror During Lockdown

Let’s be fair, the reason why we’re all in this mess  is that some people have refused to comply to the rules and now we’re all facing serious punishment. But away from the revellers and rebellious ones come more committed people. People who have followed the rules much more carefully and because of this some beautiful stories have been released.

 

Preston based Christine Singleton is a full time carer for her 17 year old profoundly disabled son James. 

 

She also lives with her husband Fergus and two daughters aged 16 and 12. 

 

Back in the summer when we were under the first lockdown restrictions her husband and two daughters had no choice but to move out in order to protect James. 

 

This is because James has a series of diseases including respiratory and renal issues and everything else which is listed on the shielding list. 

 

Now during the second lockdown Christine is shielding at home with a care team whilst  her husband and the girls are living with relatives close by. 

 

Christine expresses her frustration yet respects the decision the government must implement, 

 

"It's incredibly difficult. But we've got to keep each other as safe as possible. The girls are used to us being away to some extent because we are in the hospital regularly, but this is different. When we are in the hospital they come and spend the day and we would go to a cafe for lunch, but they couldn't do that over the summer. They are incredibly strong young ladies. They miss James and he has missed them an awful lot.”

 

Thanks to modern technology the family are able to video chat every evening. But James still gets very lonely and his mood immediately drops when the conversation has finished. 

 

Following an 84 day separation, the family reunited in the summer. Soon Fergus and the girls self-isolated for two weeks, and  went back when school reopened. 

 

Christine concludes with these poignant but very responsible words, 

 

"The infection rate was rising and we just couldn't take the risk. Coronavirus is going to finish when it does, but as long as everyone is safe and we've done our bit and done the right thing, we will be very proud."

 

^Alex Ashworth CCG UK Blogger