Nineteen weeks, 131 days, 3144 hours, 188,640 minutes. Whichever way you depict these stats they are a very long time with regards to a child who has a life limiting illness. Compared to his peers these four months equate to years. Time in precious; every second of every day is special.
Since Alfie’s diagnosis our lives have been filled with so many questions that we don’t have an answer to but we always said that whatever happens we want to make as many memories as possible. What we didn’t factor into that equation was Covid-19!
Northern Lockdown
What started as 84 days shielding was then extended to a total of 131 days. As I’m writing this the region that we live in (Greater Manchester) has been put under another strict lockdown. Unbelievable to think that this would happen the day before shielding is paused. I’m seeing lots of people moaning about the government’s incompetence on social media. Welcome to our world is all I can say to that!
Ostracised
The government should be helping to make sure that the people who have been shielding are not ostracised. We have as much right to live our lives as everyone else. We want to get back to some form of normality, not only Alfie’s well-being but our own as well. By this I mean both physically and mentally.
Shielding Identity Lionyards
We don’t want to have to face another lockdown situation so practicing social distancing and wearing face masks is even more important from 1 August as shielding is paused.
I have been worked with MDUK over the past few weeks in regards to our shielding experiences and also to see if we could work together to create some form on identity lanyard or badge. I designed the children’s version which is aptly named the ‘Lionyard’ the design below explains why I chose the lion to help identify children who have been shielding during the pandemic.
In the absence of a government scheme there are now four shielding badges which are available to download from the MDUK site. These include one from MDUK ambassador, Chloe Ball-Hopkins. Her design includes a white heather flower which symbolises protection.
The ‘Lionyards’ are available to download using this link.
It’s been a roller-coaster of emotions over this period of time. If I’m honest we have had a lot of low moments, but we’ve also had some great ones.
We’ve celebrated three birthdays in our household during lockdown, not exactly the way we would like to have done but hopefully we will be able to celebrate Mila-Rose’s eight birthday in style.
Hopefully this was and is just an unprecedented time in our lives. One that if we all continue to work together, look out for each other, follow the social distance guidance and wear face coverings in enclosed spaces, the infection rate will eventually come down. We can all then go about our lives, maybe not quite as in the same way as before but just a bit more freely than the last four months.
Shielding has had a big impact on us as a family. I feel more alert to situations (not down to Boris!) I’ve experienced a kind of social anxiety like never before and it has also been a time to reflect and re-evaluate.
Mila-Rose and Alfie know about coronavirus and we’ve spoken about trying to keep 2m apart so much that they have become our social distance police when we go for a walk!
“Daddy, look, they are not social distancing.”
Oops! – Now we have to redress the balance in regards to making sure they don’t feel the big wide world is a scary place or them.
I’m hoping that in a few months’ time when I’m back to work and the kids are back to school that I think to myself, “You know what, I wish I was back at home every day with my beautiful family.”
Stay Safe. Social Distance. Mask On, Mask off (Just like Mr Miyagi!)