Rainbows, sunshine and free pizza!

My first memory that stands out was the day it was announced schools were closing and nonessential businesses for 3 months. I was really anxious as to how we would continue to pay the bills as my husband works for Nissan. Luckily within a few days the furlough scheme was announced

Supermarkets were suddenly full of queues and toilet roll hoarding! Sadly I didn't buy toilet rolls, but had plenty of pasta for the next year and the potential unknown shortages This did not however help with the toilet roll situation, and when we found some at our local shop, it was like finding gold!

I remember planning to move out as our daughter is asthmatic. We said goodbye to parents and grandparents through car windows and it was heart-breaking seeing my mother in law cry, and saying goodbye to our then 8 year old for a potential 3 months.

March 26th was the first 'clap for carers’ night, I remember this night as I had been on a days annual leave but I felt a little unwell clapping outside I did however feel very proud to work for the NHS and it was quite emotional seeing everyone on their doorsteps clapping.

Roll on two days and I had very bad flu symptoms, but it felt different My husband also started to feel unwell. We both said it felt like an attack on our nervous system and we both still call it our ‘covid feeling’ during re-infections. I've now had it five times

We were unable to get tests as they were only available to ITU staff at that point. I was up to day five by now, and had no taste or smell. Within a few days I was coughing up blood. I was eventually tested on day 12, April 8th 2020, my 46th birthday, I got my positive result later that day - happy birthday!

We just had to assume my husband was positive too as he could not access testing. I did feel quite shocked but also relieved, I was almost through the unknown…I went back to work after 17 days, I still felt awful with headaches and fatigue, but I was keen to get back and help my colleagues.

I valued the next few months, there was no pressure to do things and we had a lot of family time together. My husband normally works shifts, so it was nice to see more of him and discover that we live in an amazing area near a river - despite having lived where we do for 7 years!

I returned to work in a very different department, everyone had very much the same as I see trauma patients. I remember a lot been redeployed and all outpatients cancelled Luckily my role stayed of staff were upset as they had not worked on wards for years and were asked to work very much out of their comfort zones and normal hours.

The hospital was quiet as most people stayed away and safe indoors. We all pulled together and I have some nice memories of a great team effort, lovely pictures drawn from our local schools, people making us scrubs and of course free pizza!

After three months my daughter returned to school and my husband to work. She was one of only six children, we had to work altered hours for child care I cried the day I left her as she didn't know anyone or the teachers but of course she had a great day and played tag! I did feel upset with social media posts 'keeping their children safe' as others were off work I felt incredibly guilty I couldn't keep my daughter at home.

I sadly lost my grandmother in January 2022 to Covid, and watched friends lose their parents in the same way Its quite surreal looking back at that first year, one of the sunniest years I can remember, rainbow NHS pictures in windows and spaces made from yellow tape to stand in…

Sharon Haak Physiotherapy Team