Joy as heroine mum is home after eight weeks
CARE home worker Katy Edwards has finally got to hug her husband and six children after leaving her family for eight weeks to protect them from coronavirus.
Selfless Katy, 33, took the heartwrenching decision to self-isolate in a spare room at her mother’s house as the Covid-19 pandemic spread throughout the UK.
The home where she works as a day care assistant suffered eight deaths from coronavirus in just three weeks.
But Katy has now returned to husband Simon and their six children in Blurton, Staffs, as Covid-19 cases continue to fall.
And there were huge hugs for Simon and children Morgan, 13, Jesika, 11, Amelia, eight, Darcy, five, Paisley, four and 16-month-old Ivy-Mae. Katy said: “I left my own home and my family behind so I could continue giving 100 per cent care to my residents.
“I don’t regret the decision I made because I love my job.
“Of course, I love my family but I would like to come through this and know that I have kept my family safe by doing this.
“It was a commitment I made so I can be the carer that I am. It’s the best decision I have made.”
The 189-bed Bradwell Hall Nursing Home in Newcastle-underLyme has also reported a further 18 coronavirus positive cases in addition to the eight deaths.
Katy paid tribute to the home’s bosses and staff who she called a fantastic team.
She said: “The death rate was high but what is difficult for people to appreciate is it’s a nursing home and there are a lot of people in there at the latter end of their lives.
“The owners and directors have been fantastic. I have never attended to anybody without wearing personal protective equipment. I never had to worry about where my next face mask is coming from.
Supportive
“We did ask for community support and we are so grateful for the community helping us but we never went without.
“Our directors always made sure it was safe for ourselves and the residents. I am so proud to say where I work, where I come from and the amazing team that is there.”
Katy said Simon had been her hero for keeping the family together, happy and safe.
She added: “He has been supportive throughout all of this pandemic. Our main focus is that at the end of it we will all be safe and will come together again.”
But she warned: “Covid-19 is going to be here for a long time and because restrictions are eased we are by no means over this pandemic.
“We are moving forward in a gradual process of what is going to be a new normal.”
Morgan said of her mother: “It’s really exciting to have her back,” but laughed: “It’s a change because my mum is a lot stricter!”
After her big hug from Katy, Jesika said: “It’s amazing to have her back.”