A York mother has revealed the devastation of losing her grandad to Covid.
Maria works at Copmanthorpe Primary School in York. She said losing her grandfather, Arthur Carr, had left her family ‘struggling to grieve’ as they weren’t able to come together and remember him.
She said: “My darling grandad died in April after battling Covid. He passed away in York Hospital, with no family around him and with no funeral to speak of.
“We are still struggling with our separate grief, and the trauma of not being able to grieve together as a family or give him the send-off he deserved.
“My grandad was 88, which was a really good age but he wasn’t ready to go. He did ballroom dancing and bowled; he had 12 great grandchildren.
“He was one of 13 himself and held his sisters’ hands when they died, but he died alone.”
Illness hit others
Maria said the illness hit others in the family. “My nana also spent time in hospital on oxygen.
“She thankfully came home, but she has some scarring on her lungs. Both my parents suffered from the illness, but weren’t tested because at the time testing only took place when patients were admitted to hospital.
“My mum has had no sense of taste or smell since last March.”
Maria shared her experience as part of City of York Council’s My Covid Story campaign.
She said: “I keep busy, I have three children of my own and work at a primary school with small groups of children who need additional support, sometimes at school, sometimes from home, and it’s a job I love.
“But after my experience, I just don’t want anybody else to go through what we’ve gone through.”
Council leader Keith Aspden said: “These real-life stories show us just how important it is that we continue to work together to reduce the transmission of the virus in York.”