Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

What one moment will always stay with you from this?

568 replies

Ostryga · 08/08/2021 03:04

Mine was realising panic shopping was everywhere, and that I needed to buy an entire food shop for Dd and I before lockdown.

I cried when I found a shop with chicken and milk.

The fear I felt of the virus at that time, and also not being able to make sure we had food is something I hope to never repeat.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
LizzieLoo28 · 12/08/2021 16:07

Its very personal to me and my family, so I don't expect others to understand....

On May 19th 2020, I took my 12 year old cat to the vets to be put to sleep. She had a suspected cancerous mass in her tummy area and other health problems as well. Too weak for an operation sadly.

I knew that we weren't allowed in the vets waiting room even due to their Coronavirus rules to protect their own staff mainly. Our vets has double doors into a lobby and then another mainly glass double doors into the reception/waiting room.

The lobby was used as some sort of airlock to remove our cat from her basket and put into their basket. We had to do that part. We were giving our baby her last cuddles and saying Goodbyes, myself and hubby very upset and crying naturally.

I happened to turn around during this very private moment to see 4 members of the veterinary staff literally gawping at us through the double doors into reception. Like seriously pushed up against the full glass doors like an army guarding reception. I mean, the respectful thing to do would have been to lock the doors, step away and give us some privacy for a while.... And we would have knocked on the doors once we were ready to make payment and leave.

Its heartbraking enough taking your beloved pet to be put to sleep, knowing that the last person my cat saw alive was a stranger but the image of the vets staff watching our every move will live with me forever. Later on and even now, it makes me furious. Perhaps i'm being too sensitve.

Bennetgirl · 12/08/2021 16:34

@LizzieLoo28 We had our cat put to sleep just before lockdown. It was absolutely heart breaking to watch.

I'm really sorry you weren't able to be with her but I'm sure they looked after her for you x

QueenofKattegat · 12/08/2021 16:55

I had to have my dog put to sleep during lockdown. Luckily, I was able to be with him because they did it outside under a marquee. So sad to read your story LizzieLoo. I bet she was a lovely puss SmileFlowers

GCAcademic · 12/08/2021 17:04

Really sorry to hear that LizzieLoo. After having a good relationship with our vets for fifteen years of dog ownership, I was also disgusted by their inhumanity when we got to the last stages of DDog's life during lockdown. They wanted us to put him in the boot of our car so that they could pick him up from there and take him inside to euthanise without us. That dog was utterly terrified of the vet and would have been traumatised. Luckily we found a different vet who was able to come out to the house. I will never forgive our usual vet for that.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 12/08/2021 18:22

I'm so sorry for those of you who've lost pets. My cat has been ill a few times over the last 18 months and each time I've hated handing him over in the car park. He's 16 and it's always been at the back of my mind that this could be it, the last time I see him.

XenoBitch · 12/08/2021 18:29

@GCAcademic

Really sorry to hear that LizzieLoo. After having a good relationship with our vets for fifteen years of dog ownership, I was also disgusted by their inhumanity when we got to the last stages of DDog's life during lockdown. They wanted us to put him in the boot of our car so that they could pick him up from there and take him inside to euthanise without us. That dog was utterly terrified of the vet and would have been traumatised. Luckily we found a different vet who was able to come out to the house. I will never forgive our usual vet for that.
I am in a breed specific dog group on FB, and there was often pleas from people asking for anyone knowing a vet that would do house visits to have their poor dog PTS. It was heart breaking to read. Some compromised and would PTS in the car park so the family could still be there. Such awful situations to be in Flowers
ChampagneKisses · 12/08/2021 20:29

Just after Mother's Day we had loads of floral bouquets left over (supermarket worker) I clocked a district nurse coming in so I grabbed one and gave it to her. It was a corporate thing to donate them to nhs staff etc.
She broke as I handed them over and thanked her for her work. She said she had had an awful day and we tipped her over the edge. We are close to a prison so I gave a few away to prison officers. Giving people a little colour in their day actually helped me more than they will ever know 🌟

mrssunshinexxx · 12/08/2021 22:47

My mum dying suddenly of a stroke and not allowed to go to hosptial to be with her as she died. She was only 63 and I was 6 weeks off giving birth to my first baby
Covid has taken so much from so many

containsnuts · 13/08/2021 07:25

In the early days of the pandemic, there was a story in the press about a lady with terminal illness who received a letter from her GP advising that she would not be treated if she got Covid because apparently she was a burden on the stretched service at the time. The letter was worded in a cruel and hartless manner and I'm still appalled on her behalf. I can't imagine how she must have felt at such a vulnerable time. I suspect she has since passed away but I hope she found comfort and reassurance when she needed it the most Flowers.

LizzieLoo28 · 16/08/2021 19:42

@QueenofKattegat

I had to have my dog put to sleep during lockdown. Luckily, I was able to be with him because they did it outside under a marquee. So sad to read your story LizzieLoo. I bet she was a lovely puss SmileFlowers
Sorry to read about your dog's passing. Its lovely that the vet was able ensure that you and other patients could be with your dog's at the end. Different with cats I suppose. They're more likely to run off.

She was a beautiful cat in every way. Very gentle. Never hunted either. I miss her dearly. Even though I have another cat, which we adopted in 2017, the remaining cat has a different personality totally. She hates too much fuss, spends more time outside, sleeps as far away from us as possible.

Caplin · 16/08/2021 19:51

The utter panic in my dad’s eyes when I walked into his covid hospital room. He was petrified I would catch it (I did), and it was the moment he truly knew he wouldn’t survive. He gave me all the codes to his iPad and banking so I knew where everything was. He died two days later and I was able to be with him and hold his hand.

I broke my heart how many died alone.

TheRainbow · 16/08/2021 21:42

How selfish and unkind many people are during a pandemic. I will not forget this.

TheRainbow · 16/08/2021 21:50

@caplin.My heart goes out to you, that must have been such a difficult time. Thank goodness you were able to hold your dad"s hand.

XenoBitch · 16/08/2021 21:54

@containsnuts

In the early days of the pandemic, there was a story in the press about a lady with terminal illness who received a letter from her GP advising that she would not be treated if she got Covid because apparently she was a burden on the stretched service at the time. The letter was worded in a cruel and hartless manner and I'm still appalled on her behalf. I can't imagine how she must have felt at such a vulnerable time. I suspect she has since passed away but I hope she found comfort and reassurance when she needed it the most Flowers.
A lady I know who has several chronic conditions (none terminal) had a similar letter saying that ventilation would not help so if she got Covid and needed it, then she would not be put on one. Also people who have relatives in residential care for severe learning disabilities/brain injury were also told their loved ones would not be treated.
tintodeverano2 · 16/08/2021 21:54

My mum dying.

ribbonsred · 16/08/2021 23:30

Finally being able to hug my Nan months after grandad died - it was a long hug.

powershowerforanhour · 17/08/2021 00:48

A country funeral- my dad's uncle. Normally the church would be packed and the queue of people waiting to shake hands with the bereaved family on the way in stretches out of the doors through the church carpark and onto the road.

So instead we went to the end of the road joining the route the hearse took- not publicised, as undertakers not allowed to encourage it. I was near the top of a hill waiting, standing on one side of my cousin's driveway, she on the other. A neighbour pulled up in a nearby gateway. Looking down the hill there were families or couples or single people standing at the bottom of each farm lane and driveway and at every road junction I could see, wearing their good clothes, and as the cortege passed we each nodded to dad's cousin and the rest of the family, trying to put into a 3 second look through a car window what we would say if we could touch them and talk to them. The few cars passed by and then we talked for a couple of minutes, from gateway to driveway, then we all went home.

powershowerforanhour · 17/08/2021 00:56

And a few months before that, reading this article and particularly the photo of the priest and feeling so sorry for the lady's husband. I know it was necessary- but so lonely.
m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/coronavirus-fermanagh-husbands-grief-as-he-cant-attend-soulmates-funeral-39084226.html

Also the photo of the Queen sitting alone at Philip's funeral.

Spud13 · 17/08/2021 00:59

Holding patients hands whilst they died from covid. X😔

whythooo · 17/08/2021 01:01

June or July 2020, I think?

Months stuck in a flat as a single parent with no garden. ADHD spiralling, mental health crumbling, the successful business I'd been building going down the toilet.

I was on my knees and just had a mini fuck it moment.

Made some coffee in a flask, took my girls and jumped the fence to get into the playpark.

I sat in the sun with a coffee and watched them PLAY. Actually fucking play.

We spent the morning there and I worked on my laptop. At some point a dad turned up with his daughter, both jumped the fence too, and we just gave each other this understanding smile and sat at opposite ends of the park while the kids played together.

Pretty sure I will remember that day for the rest of my life because it was the happiest I had been in months and it really kept me going.

I advised another parent on MN who seemed to be having a really hard time to do the same and got absolutely slated for it on here. I'd do it again. This pandemic and the response has been farcical in its entirety but particularly farcical for children and business owners and I regret absolutely nothing.

ChristineHants · 17/08/2021 01:27

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

marmaladehound · 17/08/2021 08:51

@whythooo

June or July 2020, I think?

Months stuck in a flat as a single parent with no garden. ADHD spiralling, mental health crumbling, the successful business I'd been building going down the toilet.

I was on my knees and just had a mini fuck it moment.

Made some coffee in a flask, took my girls and jumped the fence to get into the playpark.

I sat in the sun with a coffee and watched them PLAY. Actually fucking play.

We spent the morning there and I worked on my laptop. At some point a dad turned up with his daughter, both jumped the fence too, and we just gave each other this understanding smile and sat at opposite ends of the park while the kids played together.

Pretty sure I will remember that day for the rest of my life because it was the happiest I had been in months and it really kept me going.

I advised another parent on MN who seemed to be having a really hard time to do the same and got absolutely slated for it on here. I'd do it again. This pandemic and the response has been farcical in its entirety but particularly farcical for children and business owners and I regret absolutely nothing.

I don't blame you one little bit! By June/July it was really taking its toll, especially those with no outside space.
Chillychangchoo · 17/08/2021 09:18

@whythooo

I’ll never forget all the fenced up playgrounds 😢.

I wanted to jump ours but we wouldn’t have been able to get away with it where I live. We had just moved from a flat to a house with a garden in Jan 2020 and that really kept me going. I thought about families in flats often having just moved out of one. Must have been bloody awful for you.

Scarby9 · 17/08/2021 09:30

Right at the start, the weekend before lockdown was announced.
I managed to buy toilet rolls in our local garage and packed a parcel of those and cleaning stuff to post to my parents.
They had to shield, couldn't go to the shops, we couldn't get a delivery slot for over a month, my dad had a sickness bug and they were too far away for me to visit.
Panicky times.

What one moment will always stay with you from this?