A kiss for my boy... nurse who’s showing true sacrifice
Emotional parents sent son, two, to live with relatives
A NURSE and her husband have been living apart from their two- year-old son for seven weeks to protect him from coronavirus.
Every day Charlotte and Daniel Cole wave to little George through the window of his grandparents’ house where he is staying.
Touching photos of the tearful couple blowing kisses to their boy has now been submitted to a competition calling for images capturing Britain during lockdown.
Charlotte, a care quality nurse, said: “It’s always very emotional when we go to visit because George doesn’t understand why we have to leave him.
“But I try to look on the positive side that at least we can see him – even though it’s through the window. It’s better than not being able to see him at all.”
She and Daniel, a data analyst, made the agonising decision to move George to her parents’ house on April 1 after a resident at a care home where Charlotte works was diagnosed with Covid-19.
Charlotte, who oversees seven care homes, said: “It was an extremely difficult decision to make. No mum would want to be put in that situation.
“We agonised and tried to put it off for as long as we could.
“Sadly the decision was made for us when I found out that some of the residents and colleagues at the homes were experiencing symptoms of the virus.”
George has been staying with his grandparents Bridget and Robert Younger, who live a five-minute drive away from his parents in Kirkham, Lancs. Charlotte and
Daniel, both 30, make alternate daily trips to visit him during the week because of their work. They then visit him together at the weekends. They admit they were not expecting to be away from their son for so long.
Charlotte said: “We anticipated it for a few weeks when the lockdown was first announced but then it was extended twice.
“It is tough and we have our down days but Daniel and I just try to support each other.The house is extremely quiet and tidy and I really miss doing the little things with George.”
Although George is safe, his grandparents fear for their daughter’s health. Bridget, a school cook, said: “I worry all the time when Charlotte goes to work but she keeps saying to me it’s her duty.
“Her dedication and determination to the job and putting others first is second to none.”
Bridget’s neighbour, professional photographer Pete Ashton, 45, took the images which have been entered into Hold Still – a project that is being headed by the Duchess of Cambridge.
He said: “When Charlotte and Daniel arrived, George lit up. It was beautiful to watch.”