A mum-of-three who works in a care home has written a heartfelt poem about protecting the residents and keeping the coronavirus at bay.<\/p>\n
According to care practitioner Michelle Williams, who works at Pendine Park\u2019s Hillbury care home in Wrexham, she put her feelings into verse because she was struggling to cope and losing sleep because she cares so much about the people she looks after.<\/p>\n
Michelle, 52, who lives in Ruabon, wakes up every day hoping the virus doesn\u2019t find its way into the home and infect her beloved residents.<\/p>\n
Before starting at Pendine Park, she worked in offices and even ran her own pub.<\/p>\n
One of her three daughters, Emily, who works as a care practitioner at Hillbury is\u00a0 also studying mental health nursing at Chester University<\/p>\n
Michelle said: \u201cIt\u2019s in your mind every second of the day from the moment you wake up. We all feel the same, we just want to keep this horrible virus away from our residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cI woke up the other day and while I was having a coffee I started to write a poem, just the first verse. I can\u2019t really explain why, it was just how I felt at that time. I went to work and that night I finished it when I got home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI sent it to Emily who encouraged me to put it on Facebook. I did and it went crazy. It just got so many likes and was shared so many times.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur manager at Hillbury, Cindy Clutton, contacted me and asked if she could share it with the owners of Pendine Park, Mario and Gill Kreft.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a bit amazed as I was just saying what we all feel. Our residents are like family to us especially while their own families can\u2019t come and visit them. It\u2019s so hard.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cKeeping our residents safe and virus free is hard work and it\u2019s only really now that I feel the government is realising the important role we play and the fact we too are on the front line.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are so lucky to have such a great team. We are in total lockdown and relatives just can\u2019t come in which is so hard.<\/p>\n
\u201cMr Kreft has installed washing stations outside all our care homes and everyone that does have to come in must wash their hands thoroughly before entering.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an amazing team. Everyone is just so determined to prevent this virus from finding a way into our care home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI enjoy working with Emily and the rest of the team. We are like one big family, staff and residents.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daughter Emily, 21, started working at Pendine Park when she was 16<\/p>\n
She is proud of her mum and believes her poem and words of wisdom are inspiring.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cMum just sent the poem to me and asked what I thought. I told her she has to get it on Facebook. She put it on and it went kind of viral. It had so many likes and shares it was just amazing.<\/p>\n
\u201cMum\u2019s poem really sums up how we all feel right now. It\u2019s so hard but we are determined to protect our residents. I just thought the poem was amazing and it brought tears to my eyes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emily added: \u201cI really am proud of mum and the whole team I work with.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone is just so professional and determined. If the virus was to get in it wouldn\u2019t be because of any failure on the staff and management\u2019s part that\u2019s for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hillbury manager Cindy Clutton says Michelle\u2019s poem perfectly summed up the feelings of all her staff.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cIt struck a chord when I read it. It\u2019s heartfelt and I know Michelle, Emily and all the staff have a really strong bond with residents. It sounds corny saying they are like family but that\u2019s the relationship they have.\u201d<\/p>\n
COVID 19 THE CARERS POEM<\/strong><\/p>\n The alarm goes off I raise my head<\/p>\n Thinking of the day ahead<\/p>\n How things have changed in many ways<\/p>\n Bringing sleepless nights and worrying days<\/p>\n But my role as a carer remains the same<\/p>\n Keeping my residents safe is my main aim<\/p>\n Lockdown is on, family they miss<\/p>\n I reassure them.. I can do this!<\/p>\n Social distancing and masks I wear<\/p>\n Regular hand washing this shows I care<\/p>\n I strive to keep this virus away<\/p>\n With my amazing team, we can keep it at bay<\/p>\n Regular bulletins from our boss<\/p>\n Without these we would be at a loss<\/p>\n Important guidance on what we should do<\/p>\n And a little humour thrown in there too<\/p>\n Covid 19 you plan to be mean<\/p>\n But the staff at Pendine.. we\u2019re a great team<\/p>\n You\u2019re taking lives more and more<\/p>\n But I\u2019ll do my best! You won\u2019t get through our door!!!<\/p>\n