Mum makes coronavirus 'cuddle curtain' so she can hug self-isolating daughter

A mum and daughter were able to hug for the first time in nine weeks thanks to a ‘cuddle curtain’.

Lara Green, 35, surprised her daughter Katie, 13, with the homemade contraption last Monday.

When the government suggested vulnerable people should shield at home from the coronavirus in March, Lara made the heartbreaking decision to send severely asthmatic daughter Katie to self-isolate with her grandma Helen, 65, for 12 weeks.

But after noticing Katie had been feeling homesick, preschool worker Lara whose key worker status meant she was still spending more time in proximity with others, constructed the ‘cuddle curtain’.

She tightly taped clear refuse bags through holes in the £3.99 plastic curtain from Amazon, to safely cuddle her beloved daughter and mum after weeks apart.

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Lara, from Medway, Kent, surprised her daughter during the pair’s regular window and garden visit – capturing the moment on camera.

She said: ‘Katie went into isolation with my mum nine weeks ago because she has severe asthma – when she catches a cold, nine times out of 10 she’ll end up in hospital on oxygen and it takes a few days for her to get better.

‘My mum also has underlying health issues so when the government announced that vulnerable people should self-isolate and I really didn’t want her and Katie to catch coronavirus.

Lara added: ‘I’m very cuddly with my children so to not cuddle Katie for nine weeks or even be near her was so hard – you really start to miss the little things.

‘So, I thought I’d give making a cuddle curtain a try.

‘As soon as Katie held my hands through the curtain I was gone – it was the touch and feeling the heat of her hands that was amazing.

‘You could have bought me a million pound present and nothing could have come close to that moment – I’ll never take a cuddle for granted again.’

Lara has now begun planning her next ‘cuddle curtain’ construction for next week’s visit, which will be new and improved with stronger tape for a longer embrace.

She said: ‘I FaceTimed Katie the day after and she was all bouncy and mum said she woke up in a really good mood – she is constantly talking about the cuddle curtain, saying she really enjoyed it.

‘Her younger sister Nola, nine, also had a hug with her sister through the curtain, and went to bed with a massive smile on her face.

‘My mum is supposed to isolate until July so hopefully when she can come out, Katie can come out too – but I’m glad that they have got each other at this time.’

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