"It's been absolutely devastating": The sacrifices you've made over a year of lockdown and Covid restictions

As we mark the first anniversary of Scotland’s initial lockdown many of us are in a reflective mood.

People have been spending the one year anniversary of the first lockdown reflecting on the sacrifices they have made.

The last 12 months has been difficult for the majority of Scots and many have suffered great hardships for the common good.

We asked you on our Facebook page for the hardest things you have sacrificed in the last year.

Many have been forced to be isolated from family and friends for long periods, in some instances losing the chance to form precious final memories of loved ones.

Elaine McRae is one of those who has experienced this personal tragedy: “Not spending precious time with my dad and uncle over the past year was a massive sacrifice as they have both passed away in the last five months .We will never get that time back again."

This absense of family contact is heightened for those, like Stuart Corbett, who live far away: “We’ve not been able to get hugs from our two wee grandsons, aged 3 and 5, since we left to go home to France. It's almost a year since we left and we still can’t get back. We always went back two or three times a year and they came over for their holidays. We are missing them so much and they are always asking us: ‘When are you coming to our house?”. We’re also missing our daughter, son, daughter-in-law and my mum who is 83. We don't know when we will see them again – thank god for Facetime, but it’s not the same.”

Ruth Townsley is also missing her grandchildren and is using technology to make up for physical contact: “I have lost my income but the hardships that this has brought is nothing compared to the fact I have only managed to hold my first grandchild on two occasions. I have seen all his firsts via my iPad but it’s not the same as being there.”

It’s been particularly tough for those, like Ally Cowan, with family in care homes who have been subject to some of the toughest restrictions: “My mum went into a nursing home the eve of lockdown. She has vascular dementia and next Tuesday will be the first time I get to properly see her indoors in what has been her home for the last year."

Jodie Dunlop has found herself in the samedifficult situation: “I haven't seen my nana for a year now as shes in a care home and it’s been absolutely devastating.”

Many people have also missed important life events as well as family members, including Elaine Logan: “I’ve missed my two kids’ weddings, seeing my granddaughter grow from a baby to a toddler, seeing my friends, being at my friends’ funerals, and hugs.”

That inability to attend funerals has been tough for people to accept, with Kathleen Oberr not being able to attend her mother’s funeral.

Frazer Simpson wasn't able to go to his father’s funeral after developing symptoms and describes it as being the “hardest day of my life”.

And Tracy Forsyth suffered a double heartbreak: “I didn’t get to go to my granny’s or my best friend’s funerals because I was shielding.”

Ttracy Jjayne has also made numrous sacrifices: “It’s very hard to pick just one. I’ve waited longer for medical procedures, our wedding and honeymoon has been postponed, and I’ve lost my job. It’s also tough not seeing family or being able to hug or even touch them.”

Losing a job has been an unwanted result of the pandemic for many, including Ali Wilson: “I’ve sacrificed my livelihood. I haven’t been able to work for a year.”

Inevitably people’s health has been impacted both directly and indirectly by Covid-19.

Laura Harkess said: “I’ve sacrificed my own health. As a registered nurse in a severely understaffed facility I worked every single day for six months, then I had to go off sick with significant health problems.”

Mags Mcmillan's health has also suffered but is trying to see the positives: “Not being able to visit my mum, dad and my granddaughters has meant my mental health has taken a knock. It has made me appreciate everything now though, so i suppose that’s a good thing.”

And those, like Jinty Lyons, who had to be admitted to hospital, had to do so alone: “I suffered a miscarriage in 2020 and wasn't allowed to take my partner in with me. I couldn't process what was happening to me and I couldn't take in any information given to me because I was in shock. It was brutally hard. This too shall pass though.”