THEY’RE MUMAZING!
It’s been the toughest of years for mothers, but among so many tales of love and selflessness our competition winner and finalists deserve an extra-special hug this Sunday
THEY say a mother’s work is never done — something these past 12 months have proved all too vividly, as mums everywhere faced juggling homeschooling and sustaining busy careers, while soothing their children’s fears about the pandemic. Truly, then, tomorrow is a Mother’s Day to celebrate all mums — reflected by the flood of votes from Mail readers across the country nominating some
RETuRNINg home from an exhausting night shift caring for sick and dying Covid patients, nurse Rachel Sutcliffe longed to cuddle her daughters.
But that was impossible. Because for three long months last year the closest she came to seeing them — the youngest then just three — was through glass patio doors.
For fear of endangering her family through her vital work as an acute care nurse, in the first lockdown Rachel sent her daughters to live with her parents. And although her parents only lived across the road, it may as well have been miles for all she would see of them.
It was last Mother’s Day when her four daughters — Sophie, ten, Olivia, eight, Hannah, six, and Evelyn, four — left to live with their nana Carol, a retired bookkeeper, and granddad gary, a retired policeman, both in their 60s.
‘Sending them off with their little suitcases was heartwrenching,’ says Rachel, a single mum in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.
‘I explained Mummy had to work more because of all the poorly people and couldn’t be with them for a few days.’
Because in truth, Rachel didn’t know then how long they would be apart — nor how hard she would find it.
‘I cried every day. I had no idea how much I’d crave all those little Mum things like being able to cuddle them and kiss them goodnight. I even took their teddies to bed with me because they smelt of my girls.’
But as a nurse with 16 years’ of the most deserving for our Inspirational Mother of the Year Award, hoping to win them our star prize of a luxury two-night ‘Great British Breakaway’ for two at a four-star QHotel. Today, we announce our exceptional winner, who’ll capture your heart with her story of self-sacrifice — not to mention the worthy finalists who have also given their all in a year which demanded so much of mothers everywhere…
Nurse who put Covid patients before the children she adores
experience, Rachel knew her skills were sorely needed. And as a single mum, the family rely entirely on her income.
‘I couldn’t let my colleagues and patients down,’ she says. ‘Yet I felt terribly guilty, both for my girls and for my parents. Mum and Dad also foster two children, so they ended up with six children in a three-bedroom house.’
The moment she got in from her 12-hour night shifts, Rachel would FaceTime her daughters. ‘Every day they asked: “Can we come home soon?” It hurt but I just had to keep saying: “Soon.”
‘They put notes on my car that I’d find on my way to work, saying: “We love you, Mummy. We’re so proud of you.”’
Three times a week, Rachel stood in her parents’ back garden and waved to the girls through the patio doors. ‘Sometimes that made it even harder. Evelyn would try and open the door. I would put my palm against hers on the glass and go home and sob.’
Rachel’s agonising decision proved to be the right one, however. In late April, she tested positive for Covid. Her breathing became laboured; her oxygen levels plummeted so low she had to be taken to hospital.
‘I didn’t tell the children I was sick because they would have been terrified.’
After a day in hospital and six weeks at home recuperating, Rachel returned to the frontline in May.
Only in June, when cases began to fall, did Rachel feel safe having the girls home.
The reunion was magical. ‘As soon as the girls saw me, they pelted into my arms. We all cried. They spent the evening cuddling me and stroking my hair.
Although Evelyn was clingy for a few weeks, Rachel is convinced the girls have suffered no ill effects. So much so that they went to live with her parents again in November when cases rose.
As for being crowned Inspirational Mother of the Year, Rachel is characteristically modest: ‘But I just did what all mums do. I put my children first. I missed them a million times a day. But I’m so proud of them and so grateful to my own wonderful mum.’