Hereford woman speaks out about how she lost mum to Covid

Emma Lewis, of Tupsley, lost her mum earlier this year to Covid-19 which led her to feel isolated by her grief in Hereford.

"I lost my mum Marilyn Lewis to hospital-acquired Covid on February 12 and since then I have felt isolated in this city," she said.

Ms Lewis has since become a member of the Covid19 Families UK group, which supports people nationwide who have lost loved ones to the pandemic, forming sub-groups in different regions.

"I have received COVID counselling from St Michaels Hospice who I would like to thank for supporting me with this event as well as the Covid19 Families UK group."

Covid19 Families UK now has more than 40 regional groups and over 4,000 bereaved members nationwide.

They will be holding a vigil for those who have lost loved ones to the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday, December 23, at 7pm in the grounds of Hereford Cathedral.

Although the main event is being held in London at the Memorial Wall people in other areas are invited to organise their own event.

"I have not yet been able to visit the wall in London, as I am looking after my father, and felt that Hereford was not often reported on and, although St Michael's Hospice has offered specialist bereavement counselling, we all seem to feel isolated in our grief," said Ms Lewis.

Marilyn's heart put on on the memorial wall in London by her daughter Emma Lewis in her memory

She hopes the event will bring people together, so people realise there are more of us grieving loved ones lost to Covid in Herefordshire.