A NEW book penned by a Swindon writer explores people’s lives through lockdown and uncovers the struggles and hardships some have had to face. 

Lockdown Lives, by Millie Stone, is a work in progress as she continues to investigate what the past year has been like for those in difficult situations. 

She shares the stories of Elsa González a mother with an autistic son, Rebecca Harrison, who lost her sight, an ICU nurse and a police officer. 

“I was meant to be going to Kenya in April last year for a commission but everything got cancelled,” Millie said. "I’d gone from being completely overly busy to suddenly doing nothing at all.

“I wanted to write Lockdown Lives because I was finding that so many people were having different experiences of lockdown. Some people have enjoyed it and it’s been a time to reflect, but then for others they’ve never had to work so hard before. 

“Some people had lost their sense of purpose and meaning of life and so I wanted to write about that.”

Millie has interviewed a dozen people so far and intends to talk to more people before the book is complete and will look to get it published. 

She told the Adver: “I’ve spoken to people like Elsa González, who had just got her son settled into school and living life beyond being a carer. He can’t sit still for too long or concentrate, and he has what she calls meltdowns, so it’s very hard for her to have family conversations and spend time together. 

"She wasn’t able to take him to support groups because of lockdown, which made her feel isolated. 

“The story about the ICU nurse is looking at the extreme pressure at work and the level of deaths she has to deal with. In the first lockdown, she worked double her typical hours and she struggled with that. 

“I also spoke to Rebecca Harrison, who was working as pastoral support in a school when she lost her sight. She was diagnosed with two progressive eye conditions – pathological myopia and myopic macular degeneration – as well as some fast-growing cataracts. Rebecca’s life completely changed, as an individual, a mother, and an employee.”

A story of a 20-year-old mum who had to go through the birth of her child alone because of Covid restrictions will also be featured in Lockdown Lives. Both her partner and her mum were not allowed inside the room. 

Millie is now looking to talk to elderly people about their experience of this pandemic over the past year. 

If you or someone you know might be interested then email Millie on millie@milliestone.com