Birthday party in lockdown as family are trapped at home after key worker tests positive with coronavirus

Thomas Proctor has thanked the community for making his daughter’s 11th birthday one to remember while they were in isolation.

His partner Shannon, who works in a care home, tested positive with the virus and the whole family began self isolating to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Thomas’ daughter, Grace Grant, was due to celebrate her birthday during the lockdown and the 27-year-old dad had ordered banners and balloons to decorate the house.

But unfortunately by the day before Grace’s birthday the order still hadn’t arrived. Taking to social media he asked friends and the community if anyone had any decorations they would be able to deliver to him and has been overwhelmed by the response.

“Shannon started to show symptoms a day after she tested positive,” said the dad-of-three.

“Myself and our two children, Roman and Pixie also showed symptoms. My daughter Grace, normally lives with her mam, but she was with us at the time and had to self-isolate with us.

“I’d ordered some bits to decorate the house because it was due to be her eleventh birthday while we were in isolation but they hadn’t come in time.

“I posted on Facebook asking anyone if they had any decorations which they could maybe drop off at the house.

“A few people got back and then the next day we received a box at the doorstep from Bob Singh, one of the volunteers had dropped it off, filled with balloons and banners.

“I have him on Facebook and have seen how much he’s been doing for the community.

“The day has been great. We had people stop by for window visits and had a BBQ in the garden. We’ve made the most of it.

“For people to donate decorations at such a difficult time is a big thing. Even though we were stuck in the house she loved it.”

Shannon added: “It’s amazing what a community can do at a time like this. We really didn’t expect it but it made her day.”

Both Shannon and Thomas say the virus completely wiped them out, although they were lucky they weren’t more seriously affected.

Thomas, who began working as security for Asda at the beginning of lockdown, said: “I could just be sat watching the telly and I just couldn’t breathe.

“I tried to hoover and I had to sit down and stop it just wiped me out.”

Shannon added: “I was felling a bit tired and my head was hurting but I'd put that down to being overworked because I wasn’t showing any other symptoms.

“I slept for 24 hours, I just couldn’t move.

“That only lasted for two days and then for a week or so after I had a tight chest.

“We were lucky because it was quite mild, it wasn’t too bad but it’s not nice at all.”

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