Hope At Last For Families After Year Of Heartbreak

FAMILIES who have experienced a year of separation have opened up about their heartbreak. Cathy Bryce, 61, lost her mother Mary Murphy to Parkinson’s disease during the pandemic.

- Tara Fitzpatrick

Mary, 86, was a resident at Haining Nursing Home in Maddiston, near Falkirk, along with her husband Patrick, 86, who has vascular dementia – but the couple spent lockdown in separate areas of the home.

Cathy said: “The staff did the best they could for my mum but she wanted to be with my dad.

“It was their 65th anniversary in April and they made them a lovely tea together. We were not allowed in and my mum couldn’t understand why she couldn’t sit with my dad.

“It was for their own good but how can you explain that?

“The home let us in for 10 days before she passed away on October 22.