Want to know what happens when someone you love is diagnosed with COVID-19 and you are living in another country unable to get home to see them?
You get to say your final goodbyes via a hurried Facetime call. That’s it.
Your COVID-19 questions answered by Mamamia’s Claire Murphy. Post continues below.
We received that call last week. Hours before our family in Ireland were due to pick up my father in law from an extended stay in hospital after surgery, they received a call and were informed that he had developed a slight cough and as a precaution. They wanted to test him for COVID-19 before they would let him home.
This was our worst nightmare.
The following day we received the call that devastated everyone, he returned a positive result. In the space of 24 hours, our family had gone from the high of thinking he was finally coming home to the realisation that this now might not happen.
My husband got a three minute FaceTime call that day with his father, he was in good form, even reminding him NOT to fly home and waste his money.
Top Comments
This is so sad - not just for the FIL being alone, but for the grieving family not able to comfort each other :(
The situation is slightly better than in Italy though. My husband lost his uncle there a few days ago, and no-one was allowed in to see him - they simply can't spare the supplies. His wife is also in hospital with the virus but their children have chosen not to tell her so she has the best chance of recovery, and isn't left to grieve alone.