As I sit at my trusted work horse, sipping coffee and looking at this morning’s stats.
A memory flashed up; a picture.
A picture that brought up instant deep emotions.
A picture that I instantly knew the date, the interaction, and the feelings I felt in the moment vividly.
10.04.2021 First outing after isolation Joy, happiness, and sadness all in one.
Rewind
On the 23rd March 2020 the UK was put into isolation due to Covid.
For us as a family, we had already been advised to isolate a couple of weeks earlier, due to Billy being categorised as high risk.
Unfortunately for us, we were already in isolation to keep Billy well for his Reconstruction Surgery which was late February 2020 and discharged early March.
So, since New Year 2019, Billy’s direct contact had only been with us, grandparents, and hospital staff.
In the May, Billy was hospitalised with cancer and underwent treatment to the end of August 2020.
After cancer treatment you go into isolation anyway, as the patient’s immune system has taken a battering.
So, from then on, the Cancer Team became the rule makers for us.
Then later that year, the Cancer Team allowed us to form a bubble with my parents due to them being in isolation, due to my father having Stage 4 lung cancer.
About a week before the 10th April 2021, we had a meeting with The Team and we agreed the new guidance
The Rules
- Billy was able to attend nursery
- No contact inside and if it was essential like hospital, mask should be worn and the area should be well ventilated.
- Parents must continue to remote work and shouldn’t attend any unnecessary events, including food shopping.
- But, social distancing outside events were in.
A big step for us, as socialising was abnormal and we had become a little socially inept.
So, on the 9th, Alec and I had made the decision that we would take the plunge.
It was Uncle Matt birthday on the 10th and after a quick secrete phone call to Aunty Soph, the plan was made.
The emotions were running high, it was a mixture of excitement and nerves all together.
Like the feeling you get when you do something new.
Bizarre considering we have all been friends for what seems to be forever.
To us Uncle Matt and Aunty Soph are family, even though they’re not blood.
They have been a fundamental part of Billy’s life since he was born and agreed very early on that they would be his guardians if Alec and I couldn’t.
Over the years
Aunty Soph has stepped in as second mum to Billy when I returned to work, as it was too risky for him to go to nursery.
And
Uncle Matt became a magician and master carpenter with one off toys being made on request.
Billy is truly lucky to have such dedicated God parents.
In hindsight we couldn’t have picked better friends to introduce us back to the outside world.
For a couple of reason’s
- They are light hearted and funny as a duo
- There happy to lead the conversation and keep going until there’s some momentum
- There’s no judgement or pressure to perform
- They except us just the way we are
As you may have guessed, it felt like we hadn’t been apart.
Over them couple of hours we laughed, cried (just me) and wished we could be a little closer.
There was Joy, happiness, and a little sadness that time had been lost and will never be regained.
Remember you may not feel strong but you are
Love
The Rose-Tinted Mum
The Rose Tinted mum 