STEPPING UP TO HELP OUT OTHERS
Family and friends praise our remarkable key workers
HEROISM runs in the family with two of today’s key worker nominations. Sharon Millar was so impressed with the brave work and determination of two of her family members, she put them both forward for recognition.
She said that her sister-in-law, Suzanne Hope was going above and beyond in her job as a paramedic.
Suzanne works as a paramedic, ferrying patients to the Lightburn Hospital in the East End.
“She’s literally been run off her feet, working ridiculous hours since this all started,” said Sharon.
“She’s been right in the middle of it all. They’ve had colleagues who have been unwell and she’s stepped up to help out.
“She goes way beyond what has been asked of her. I can’t even imagine how it’s been for her.”
“Everything’s been put on hold,” said Sharon, adding that things have been especially difficult a lack of relief due to lockdown.
She said Suzanne is an unforgettable character who puts a smile on the faces of those she meets.
“She is a larger than life character, the total life and soul of a party.
“Once you’ve met Suzie you won’t forget her.”
The family are very close and she celebrates every Christmas with her other sister-in-law Claire Millar.
Claire, married to Sharon’s brother Stephen, is a MS nurse at a health centre in East Kilbride.
Bravely supporting vulnerable people at the centre she missed work at the very start of the outbreak as one of her daughters was ill and the family were selfisolating.
“When she got back, she said was so different,” Sharon added.
“They’re still working because their patients desperately need their care.”
Undeterred by the risk to herself and her family, Claire has been working five to six days a week supporting vulnerable patients.
“We know we appreciate them but we just don’t say it enough,” she added.
She has too many memories to mention with Claire but noted her fortieth as a particular highlight.
She added: “Claire likes to help it everybody, she’s got a very good heart.
“She’ll always offer to help someone first.”
Claire was gutted by the cancellation of a planned trip to Las Vegas for a friend’s 50th with her partner of eight years, Brian, Sharon’s brother.
Meanwhile, Laura Clacher, 27 was nominated by her colleague Lorna, for her work in a Bellshill care home.
At the beginning of the outbreak, Laura took the difficult decision to isolate from her family, taking no chances with the virus.
The brave care home nurse balances her busy work life and looking after her two young children, 4 and 5.
Lorna, who works alongside Laura at the care home praised her friends work looking after some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
She said of Laura’s attitude at the beginning of the pandemic: “She knew it was her job and it was hard but she had to do it.
“She spoke to her family every night on the phone and she wanted to keep them safe, herself and the residents. “She’s working in the same unit and she’s handled it very professionally, with a smile on her face.”
The mum-of-two has worked at the North Lanarkshire care home for around five years, said Lorna.
Lorna herself has found the coronavirus crisis tough but said she is getting on with it. “It’s been okay – we’re working a lot of extra hours and a lot of days but we’re just getting on with it and doing our job,” she said.
In a nutshell, she said Laura is a “caring nurse, dedicated and professional and she always has a smile on her face”.