5,000 thank-yous to NHS workers
Autistic youngster inspired by dedication of health workers on the wards during Covid crisis puts pen to paper to show his gratitude, writes Sarah Ward
AN autistic teenager wants to show his gratitude to NHS workers by sending them 5,000 thank-you cards over the course of this year.
Patrick Joyce became “obsessed” with coronavirus statistics, and loved the weekly Clap for Carers when members of the public showed their appreciation of health staff.
However, as the 16-year-old’s fascination with Covid numbers increased so, too, did his his anxiety levels.
Concerned about Patrick’s rising anxiety, his mother Indra realised the problem could be eased if he wrote to medics.
The teenager has now sent 35 cards to NHS workers after they fowarded their names and addresses to his mother. Indra, 52, said: “The whole thing started because I was trying to think of a creative way to stop Patrick obsessing about the Covid deaths.
“He is autistic and has developmental delay, and his anxiety has been through the roof.
“He sees pictures of doctors and nurses and wants to hug them to make them feel better.
“I said ‘how do you feel about writing letters?’.
“He loves to write, at school he writes so much and he is really interested in learning. He just wants to make people happy.
“But he was so anxious and so worked up about the statistics, but he couldn’t stop doing it, and I was so worried about his mental health.”
With a postbox sited outside their home in Tollcross, in Glasgow’s east end, Patrick doesn’t have far to venture to send his cards.
Indra believes he could write about five cards per evening without losing interest.
She posted a message on Twitter, which was spotted by people as far away as Canada.
Indra said: “Some people have asked for them to be sent to the whole team.
“I’ve been contacted by parents who have said could a card be sent to their daughter or son.
“I would like to turn it into something positive.”
Patrick has been thrilled by the enthusiastic reception for his kind gesture.
Indra added: “Statistics make sense to him because they are orderly.
“He is so excited that people are contacting me. We’ll send cards to wherever they’re wanted.
“It makes him feel good to help.” Because of developmental delay, Patrick, who will soon be 17, has the emotional and social skills of a child aged seven or eight years old.
Indra added: “He’s very sweet and very caring and loving.
“He’s been having a hard time with lockdown.
“He likes to feel needed, because people want cards from him.”
He sees pictures of doctors and nurses and wants to hug them to make them feel better