THIS IS A PSA TO ACTUALLY CHECK UP ON YOUR ESSENTIAL CARE WORKER FAMILY/FRIENDS.

Hi I'm about to do a big rant here so apologies for this but I have to talk about it.

1st;
This right here is the best person in my life, my support and anchor, my mum.
She's a community nurse.

She's always been a completely supportive person, acting in both parent roles and the strongest person I know.

SHE BEAT CORONAVIRUS WITHOUT SO MUCH AS 1 COMPLAINT.

-she caught it because community nurses were given ZERO protection or PPE to start with. A patient coughed on her.

Despite catching corona and dealing with it, she was ALWAYS in high spirits and ALWAYS put myself and my siblings first and foremost.
Always checking on us daily.

The fact she caught the virus and it wasn't her fault didn't phase her at all.
Told you, she's the strongest gal

She then, after beating the virus and taking the time to isolate, has returned to work.

(Thankfully with PPE this time....a little too late imo)

She is working 10 hour shifts, caring for patients who have corona and are incredibly vulnerable, on deaths door most of the time.

This incredible ANGEL is then also going back home and STILL taking up the handle of mother, cooking and cleaning around her house.
After 10 he shifts and watching patients deteriorate.

She still has the willpower to do anything but wallow in grief.

She has NEVER once complained until I phoned her today to check in on her
(I've been doing so since she told me she had the virus)
Today I immediately could tell something was up.
She was almost in tears as she explained how everything was getting to her.
I almost broke.

I have NEVER heard her this bad. We all struggle w mental illness in my family and mum has ALWAYS been there. It was SO hard to hear her ask if we would care if she was dying. Even now I'm almost in tears thinking about it.

All of this is getting to her. All of it.

I'm fucking devastated I can't be there with her to give her the biggest hug. I've reassured her best I can, sent her all the love and compassion but it's made me realise something so important.

All this #ThankYouNHS workers SHIT is all well and good, but who the fuck is asking #HowAreYouNHS workers.
Please please check up on essential care workers right now because you might be bored in your house but there's nurses out there LITERALLY struggling to be okay.

Nobody seems to realise how real this pandemic is for these front line workers.
And to my mum, I love you so fucking much. I wanna be there so bad. I care. You don't deserve to feel like this.

Please ask your local NHS people how they are.
Encourage them to speak out, please.

If you are a essential worker or currently with the NHS,
Thank you so so much for everything you are doing. You are heros, but PLEASE reach out if you're struggling.

Here's a fab website with loads of useful infomation! You can get through this https://hatw.co.uk/ 

If y'all could PLEASE signal boost this.
This isn't some: oh look I did a sob story I want my clout.

This is to raise awareness that your essential care workers, the very ones you are clapping for, could be struggling right now are you wouldn't even know it. #signalboost