: Collecting Covid

Cyfraniad Mair i broject Casglu Covid: Cymru 2020.

Dw i wedi gweld mwy o fy mab fenga sy’n byw ym Mangor, ar ei ben ei hun. Dw i wedi gweld gweld llai o fy mab a’i deulu yn Sir Fôn, a dim o fy mab canol a’I deulu sy’n byw ym Mryste. Diolch byth am Zoom!

Dw i’n deffro a gofyn i fy hun pa ddydd ydi heddiw a be nes i ddoe? Hefyd pendroni: be sy mlaen heddiw? Unrhyw pilates ar Zoom, unrhyw drefniant mynd am dro, gyrru meddyginiaethau ar ddydd Mercher o Ysbyty Gwynedd, cyfarfod efo rhywun lleol, derbyn bocs llysiau, nôl ‘click a collect’. Braidd yn ddiog weithiau! Ond lot mwy o goginio, a dipyn bach mwy o arddio.

Ar ôl tua tair wythnos ron i’n reit drist am ryw ddydd neu ddau, ond ar y cyfan wedi arfer rwan ar ôl tri mis. Teimlo’n emosiynol o gwmpas fy wyrion pan yn deud ffarwel achos yr amser yn rhy fyr a dim cyffwrdd.

Ar ôl sylweddoli fod hyn yn parhau, y teimlad trwm na wrth ddeffro a sylweddoli fod hyn yn reality, ond mi basiodd hynny ar ôl chydig wythnosau

Cyfraniad Leri i broject Casglu Covid: Cymru 2020.

Rydw i'n 49 ac fe ges i'r feirws… roedd popeth yn brifo. Dannedd, llygaid ac anadlu'n galed. Es i ddim i'r ysbyty, diolch byth, ond arhosodd y problemau anadlu a theimlo'n wan ac yn racs gyda fi am 8 wythnos. Rwy'n cyfri fy hunan yn ffodus iawn.

Ar hyn o bryd mae dydd Llun i ddydd Gwener yn gyfuniad reit heriol o sicrhau bod fy mhlant yn dysgu adref. Mae'r ddau â gwaith i gwbwlhau mewn cyfuniad ac ymarfer eu cyrff, cael awyr iach ac ar adeg dysgu ar lein gyda'i athrawes. Rhaid darparu digonedd o fwyd a byrbrydiau a glanhau'r ty hefyd. Rydw i'n paratoi gwaith, marcio gwaith, gwneud galwadau ffôn i blant a rhieni yn fy swydd fel athrawes Blwyddyn 1. Rydw i hefyd yn dysgu mewn ysgol Hwb – dysgu plant gweithwyr allweddol. Mae fy ngwr yn gweithio o adref ac yn trefnu offer i'r NHS – gwaith holl bwysig yn ystod y cyfnod yma. Mae'r penwythnosau'n adeg i ymlacio –allan am gyfnodau hirach, gwylio ffilmiau, creu celfweithiau, cloncan a chwarae.

Mae'r ddau [blentyn] yn gweld eisiau rhyddid. Rhyddid i fynd allan cyn hired â hoffant a thu hwnt i'w hardal leol. Maent yn colli ffrindiau a diffyg chymdeithasu'n anodd. Mae dysgu adre'n newid o ddydd i ddydd – ambell dro'n awyddus i ddysgu ac ar adegau'n emosiynol a rhwystredig. Ar y cyfan, maent yn agored i drafod am eu teimladau ac yn mwynhau cwtsh cynnes!

Mae fy nheimladau'n dod fel tonnau. Gallai fod yn ddiolchgar, derbyn y sefyllfa a trio gweld positif yn y sefyllfa ar y mwyaf, ond reit ddagreuol dros pethau bach adeg eraill… Y cysur mwyaf yw gwbod bod fy nheulu'n ddiogel, fy rhieni, fy chwaer a'i theulu a'r teulu estynedig. Rydyn ni'n ddiolchgar ac yn meddwl am rhieni sy'n diodde.

Claire's contribution to the Collecting Covid: Wales 2020 questionnaire project.

We have definitely got closer as we deal with this difficult time. We have got to know neighbours we didn't even know. Every Thursday clapping for the NHS on our doorsteps has made us more of a community. My children have been face timing their friends, writing them letters and drawing them pictures as a way to keep in touch. It's been difficult not seeing family members but we have made sure they are safe and contact them.

The children have been fantastic considering the situation. They have adapted well to homeschooling. Talking is important and the children do ask questions, but I think being honest is best! They miss their friends and family as much as we all do, so regular contact via facetime etc is great! They understand why we must stay at home, but missing normality and just being active and going places and visiting. We have baked more as a family and made our own made pizzas, bread, cookies, cakes because we've had more time together.

It’s a very anxious time. I worry constantly for my family and friends. It's upsetting especially when can't see family and friends or visit. It can be heart breaking not being able to visit our nans, parents as they are shielding due to health reasons. I worry my children will fall behind in school and if I'm doing good with homeschooling. Emotions are like being on a rollercoaster.

Rachel's contribution to the Collecting Covid: Wales 2020 questionnaire project.

I live with my 74 year old widowed mother… I fell badly on 7th May and have been off work with a bad ankle since then. Have mostly been resting my leg to recuperate; watching TV, reading and being online with my mobile phone. Just pottering.

It would usually be “business as usual” for me working shifts as a nurse. I plan to return to work very soon.

I’m a staff nurse (RNLD) and work in a NHS treatment and assessment unit for adults who have a learning disability. Six of our eight patients tested positive for Covid-19, so it was decided that our ward would become the Covid-19/red ward for the site. Two patients tested negative for Covid-19, so were transferred to another (amber) ward. We had to practice barrier nursing with full PPE, masks, face guards and remain vigilant about social distancing and hand washing at all times, where possible. Four of our patients sadly passed away between April 10th and May 8th. It was incredibly difficult and a huge loss to our staff team.

The poignancy of being part of the line-up of staff along the ward to say "goodbye" as the undertaker wheeled the deceased patient(s) past will always stay with me as we knew we wouldn't be able to attend their funerals due to restrictions.

Initially I was very worried, more for my mother than myself. Then trying to help my patients at work became a focus. I was terrified of bringing Covid-19 home to my mother as she has COPD and has been identified as someone who requires shielding. A few of my colleagues have been off self-isolating due to health shielding, and some others caught the virus, so staffing was provided by shuffling staff from other units or using bank staff. Some colleagues moved out of their homes to protect their families; staying in a large holiday home provided by the owners.

I wondered when it was going to be my turn to catch the virus? I told my mother I could try to find alternative accommodation for the duration of this crisis, but she wouldn't hear of it and preferred for things to continue as they were. I carried a lot of anticipated guilt for either possibly passing on the virus to her, or if I were to leave her to live elsewhere against her wishes.

I'm missing my closest friend terribly. We chat through messages or telephone calls, but it's really not the same.

Dan's contribution to the Collecting Covid: Wales 2020 questionnaire project.

I'm living in Roath in Cardiff in a terraced house with my wife. My grown up kids both live in England. We haven't seen our sons or their girlfriends since it all blew up. I haven't seen my 88 year old mother either.

I set up the ‘Home Portrait Society’ on the first day of lockdown. I'm a semi professional singer and writer but had not really tried art since failing O' level in 1980. Just before lockdown I started doing portraits of people I knew and enjoyed it. Others said to me "Oh I wish I could paint" and I said well you are probably as good as me. So I set up a Facebook page. In the 10-11 weeks of lockdown over 50 artists ranging from never done a picture before to professional illustrators and art teachers have got involved with artists aged from five to 88 (my mum) have contributed 400 portraits. I have contributed a portrait a day and have moved from bad sketches to watercolours and oils. All the artists have grown in confidence and have rekindled old friendships or found new ones.