There might be a pandemic … but you’d better not forget Mother’s Day
It would be easy to forget Mother’s Day after the past year, especially in a household where a mother and daughter both work for the NHS.
Helene Buijs and daughter Naomi work together at Northwick Park Hospital.
Helene has been at the hospital since 1984 back in the day when Margaret Thatcher was in power, Tina Turner was telling us ‘What’s love got to do with it?’ and South Wales was shaken by an earthquake.
She was one of the first Macmillan nurses appointed at the hospital after being moved earlier in her career as a staff nurse by the lack of post-operative support for patients with breast cancer.
Nowadays, she sees existing cancer patients with treatment complications as well as those who have just been diagnosed through the emergency department.
Daughter Naomi works as a neuro-rotational physiotherapist. She has spent much of the past year working with the covid rehabilitation and neuro-outlier teams helping patients recover.
Naomi said: “It’s been challenging but satisfying to see patients progress from intensive care to going home and knowing you’ve been part of that journey."
Helene added: “It’s been a surreal year with not much to do except work but we are both keen cyclists and recently did London-Brighton. It’s nice to get out and forget about the pandemic for a few hours.”
The whole family caught the virus last year although Helene raises an eye when asked about her daughter’s bedside nursing skills.
“What? I made you tea, didn’t I?” replies the 24-year-old.
So, what’s mum expecting for Mother’s Day this year?
“Well, Naomi did give me a massage (once) so having another one would be nice.”