The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Emotional reunion for family on the frontline
Paramedic tells of joy after sacrifice of separation to ensure safety of loved ones
A paramedic who lived apart from his family for more than two months to protect them from coronavirus has told of his joy at being able to hug his young daughter.
Jamie Brannan, 41, moved out of his home to ensure the safety of wife Louise and their six-year-old daughter Jessica.
Louise, 37, almost died from sepsis two years ago and her body had been left vulnerable after suffering the illness.
Jamie, of Newburgh, said he made the decision on March 27 to live apart from his loved ones as he worked for the Scottish Ambulance Service during the peak of the Covid-19 outbreak.
But as restrictions eased he was able to be reunited with his wife and daughter on June 10.
Jamie, who works from Perth, said: “When we began attending more and more suspected Covid cases I decided the best thing to do was separate myself from my family.
“Being reunited with my family was the most amazing feeling. My wife and
I have been together for 15 years now, 14 of which we have lived together. So being separated for so long was such a shock to us both.
“But I have to say, and I don’t think my wife will mind me saying, the biggest reward of all was getting that first hug from my daughter.
“Being able to hold her again was amazing and emotional. It felt as though we had been separated for years. Moving out was such a difficult decision but it was also the correct one.
“I’d also like to say I’ve heard many stories from across the service of staff making sacrifices, all with the aim of protecting their loved ones and continuing the amazing work they do every day within the service.”
In 2018 Jamie found Louise unconscious and after she was rushed to hospital was told she would likely die.
While she bravely recovered from sepsis she has a weakened immune system.
He added: “Thankfully she was strong enough to fight the infection and woke up from an induced coma after 24 hours.
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I’ve heard many stories from across the service of staff making sacrifices. JAMIE BRANNAN
“However, she remains immunosuppressed so, when we began attending more and more suspected Covid cases, I decided the best thing to do was separate myself from my family.”
Jamie said he was in a fortunate position where he had a flat to move into and enjoyed contact with Louise from a safe distance.
He said: “The flat is in the same village so I was able to have mostly daily visits when I wasn’t on shift, keeping my distance of course and avoiding all contact. I never entered the house and sometimes, if it was raining, I would have to stand outside and talk from the other side of the window.
“This was by far the hardest aspect of it all, being separated from my family. I remember going to visit for the first time and my daughter ran over to hug me and I had to stop her.
“I can honestly say I’ll never forget the look on her face, one of confusion and sadness. Luckily she grew to understand why I was doing what I was doing and it wasn’t forever.”