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Family

20th Mar 2020

My mum has compromised immunity so I can’t visit her this Mother’s Day

Melissa Carton

immunity

It’s going to be a very strange Mother’s Day.

The spread of COVID-19 has impacted all of our lives, in one way or another.

Whether it’s parents learning to juggle homeschooling with their normal tasks, or others concerned about how restrictions will affect their jobs and that’s before we even start to think about the virus itself.

Coronavirus has changed things for me in a big way, as I can’t see my Mum.

My mother has had chronic illnesses all of my life, but two years ago things took a turn for the worst when she was diagnosed with cancer.

While she has recovered from her original diagnosis she is still undergoing treatment which has weakened her immune system. Even when my children had chickenpox, we had to avoid her as it could have had serious repercussions for her health.

Before she was diagnosed with cancer, she developed shingles after already having chickenpox twice before.

Due to her compromised immunity, neither my children nor myself will be able to visit my mother this Mother’s Day, a fact that’s not very easy to deal with right now.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvsGWXBH4vZ/

Last year, we attended a Paint and Prosecco event. My mam used to work as an art teacher so I knew it would be right up her alley.

This year, there won’t be any bubbles or painting and instead, all I can do is order flowers to be delivered to her door.

I’m my mother’s only child making the fact that I can’t visit even harder. I know she won’t be completely alone as she lives with her partner but it’s just a small consolation.

What makes it even more difficult is not knowing when it will be safe to visit again. Her birthday is in April, will it be safe then? Who knows?

I know I’m far from the only person unable to visit their mother at the moment but hopefully, this will be the only Mother’s Day we have to be parted. I already know that next year will be extra special.