Ashburton Guardian, Wednesday, April 22, 2020

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Wednesday, Apr 22, 2020

Since Sept 27, 1879

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Bridging the gap P16

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A friendship forged in adversity (from left) Sally Lambert, Molly Riseley and Heather Pennicott, sharing a bubble at Ashburton Hospital.

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Friendships forged in the strangest of places By Sue Newman

sue.n@theguardian.co.nz

Friendships during the Covid -19 Alert Level 4 lockdown are forged in the strangest of places. Heather Pennicott, Molly Riseley and Sally Lambert all found themselves with an unexpected stay in Ashburton Hospital last week, locked up and unable to have visitors. The three women were not

coronavirus patients, but their stay in Ward One saw them forced to become bubble-mates, sharing their time with changing shifts of hospital staff. And while that could have been a lonely experience, it was quite the opposite, Pennicott said. “The staff in here were fantastic. They gave us the time we needed and made us their ab-

solute priority. I know we were in hospital but among the pills and the pain there was plenty of laughter and fun,” she said. Everyone working on the ward went out of their way to ensure their small cluster of patients were entertained. “They were absolutely mindful that we were locked up away from their families, but so were they, they all had families at

home, so work didn’t end for them when they left here and went home. Everyone of them had things going on at home.” Being hospitalised during the Covid-19 pandemic was stressful, particularly for Riseley, who had left her 94-year-old husband at home, but she’s happy to be going home in time to celebrate the couple’s 70th wedding anniversary.

The unlikely trio crossed three generations – a 90-year-old, 72year-old and a 52-year-old, but they formed a strong alliance, Pennicott said. “We’re just so grateful the hospital staff made the best of what could have been an awful situation for us. It’s been quite uplifting. The three women were discharged on Monday.

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