Ryan Tubridy was moved on Tuesday morning after a Waterford mum of four shared a heartbreaking story on his radio show.
Speaking to Tubridy on RTE Radio One spoke of taking her sick mother to a nursing home just before Covid.
Laura, a creche owner from south-east, described the “hell” her family has gone through during Covid-19, as her father and siblings were unable to visit her mother, Emily.
And even now that visitors are permitted to the nursing home, everyone must follow strict public health guidelines, in order to prevent the spread of the virus to residents.
But this means that Laura’s father Larry must now visit his wife of over 50 years while wearing a mask, while her mother must sit behind perspex glass.
Emily, a mother of six, lives in the nursing home because she is suffering from dementia, while Larry has also been struggling with his own health issues at home.
Laura told Ryan Tubridy: “Yesterday when we went in, she said to Dad, ‘I miss you’.
“And that’s a lot for her to say now. And he says, ‘But I miss you too’.
“It’s hell - 58 years of marriage to look at them like that. He with a mask on and she on the other side of a perspex screen.
“It’s not natural. It’s inhumane, actually. What the hell is happening?”
Referring to her mum, Laura added: “For someone who was always so positive, it’s so difficult to look at her looking out that window and not able to go out.”
And Laura, who said she’s been “in a state” ever since she drove her mum to the nursing home in February
With a shaky voice, Laura said: “I've been in a state ever since. Every day, evening, every song on the radio, everything reminds me.
“Dad thinks sometimes, I wonder could she come home again? And I try to explain to him, home is not a physical place for her any more. It’s in her head.
“It’s her, with us, when we were small, at home.”
Host Ryan Tubridy praised the woman for her words and for the strength she has shown over the last few months.
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