Page 42 - Old Ratcliffian 2020 Edition

OR STORIES: LIFE IN A PANDEMIC

OR NEWS Living through lockdown during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the spirit of Ratcliffe shone bright. Here, the Ratcliffe community
share their stories of hope, resilience, and inspirational personal challenges.

sure that pure adrenaline got me through
schooling, attempted holidays, an actual
that fi rst shift; it had been almost 10 years
since my last clinical ward shift, so it was short holiday, and illness. Whilst it’s not
been easy, I have learnt that, often, you are
pretty daunting, to say the least! What so much more capable than you think. There
really struck me was the fact that the NHS is always a little more room for something,
staff all just rolled up their sleeves and got and that’s one thing that I will take away
on with what needed to be done. A lot of from this pandemic. It doesn’t have to be
the traditional ‘roles’ had gone out of the a grand gesture; it might be checking on a
window, and the sense of camaraderie was neighbour, or adding some extra shopping
phenomenal. It’s fair to say, though, that for a friend who is isolating. Love is not
nothing prepared me for dealing with a always enough, but if you add compassion,
bereavement within the fi rst 90 minutes of courage, hope, grit, determination, and a
my fi rst 12-hour shift. In over 15 years in the good dose of cuddles from those who mean
NHS, I have dealt with my share of death the most to you into the mix, I’m pretty
and the dying, but there is something that sure we will be going into 2021 as better
will stay with me forever about having people. For now, though, I’m focusing on
the privilege of holding a person’s hand recovering from illness, my family, and
while they took their last breath that day. putting my running shoes back to use.
COVID visiting restrictions meant that Thankfully (for both them and us), our
families were not able to be there. That two boys are both now at De Lisle School
Victoria Meynell (née Illingworth) (00): was the stark reality, and I wasn’t going to in Loughborough, and our daughter is at
“As most of us refl ect on what has been let them leave this world alone. The rest of Bishop Ellis. I have a newfound respect for
a challenging year, I, too, am looking my shifts went by in a blur of A&E, medical our education system; sadly, it often takes
back with a mixture of emotions. I’m wards, and admissions, but somehow, the something being taken away to realise
still licking my wounds from what can dreaded 3am to 5am period on a Saturday what a privilege schooling and healthcare
only be described as some of the most night shift still haunts me! (Those of you is! A teacher I am defi nitely not! I wish you
diffi cult months, both personally and who do night shifts will understand!) all a happy and healthy 2021.”
professionally, coupled with some fantastic
lockdown memories as a family of fi ve, and Between home-schooling our three
my experience of life back on the front line. children (pictured, below), day jobs, and
It’s fair to say I’m praying for a healthy and front-line work, there was little time for
quiet 2021! Throughout the COVID-19 much else. After a few weeks passed, it
pandemic, I continued to work full-time was time for me to take a step back; the
for the British Heart Foundation within the peak had passed, and the pressure on the
Health Services Engagement team. I love hospitals was reducing. I’d done as much
this job; it’s so varied, and I get to support as I was able to, and to be honest, my
some fantastic services and health systems children and husband needed me back. My
to ensure that they are delivering the best short period back on the front line was a
possible care for people affected by heart drop in the ocean. The real heroes of this
and circulatory conditions. I also spend pandemic are all of the key workers who
some of my time working directly with NHS continued to deliver care and services, day
England and NHS Improvement on national in and day out, and, of course, Captain Sir
health policy. Neither of these roles are Tom Moore!
directly patient-facing, and so, during the
peak of the pandemic, I chose to join NHS Since my period back on the front line, life
Professionals, and I spent some annual has continued in a daze of work, home-
leave and weekends back on the front line.

I genuinely think that, when you sign up to
a career like nursing or medicine, wherever
you end up, there is always something that In August, Ben Surtees-Smith (99)
calls you back when you’re needed most. took on the Bone Cancer Research Trust
I felt compelled to step up and support Challenge of running 100 miles, but he
my fellow NHS colleagues during such a totally smashed this target by running a
diffi cult time. Within a matter of days, I total of 323 miles – 100 of which were in
was walking into a hospital that I’d never one week! He set out to raise £150, but
previously worked in, an hour from home, his total fundraising efforts reached an
and right onto a COVID ward. I’m pretty incredible £1,336! Ben said: “I run with
42 The Old Ratcliffi an 2020