A NURSE who once walked through a snowstorm to get to work has been hailed as a “real-life angel” by her friends.
Eilidh Gilmour, 28, spends her days caring for vulnerable patients at the Golden Jubilee Hospital, in Clydebank, before raising the spirits of struggling pals during lockdown.
The selfless Whiteinch woman has even had to cope with living away from her family due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but continues to go above and beyond for others without any complaints.
READ MORE: Meet Glasgow's key worker heroes: Castlemilk man defies the odds and pharmacists go extra mile
Eilidh, who has worked at the hospital for around three years, is the latest hero being honoured in the Glasgow Times after she was nominated by best friend Laura Kemp.
Laura, 28, from Milngavie, said: “She is never down and always has such a great, happy attitude no matter what is happening.
“We always remember a few years ago when the weather was awful (2018’s Beast from the East) she would walk from Whiteinch to the hospital and back just so she wouldn’t miss a shift.
“We are catching up with her every so often on Houseparty or video chat and she is always so happy and keeping our spirits up.
“Everyone is struggling but she has not complained once about any of it, even although she hasn’t seen her family for six or seven weeks.”
Dedication to the health service runs in Eilidh’s family, with her mum Ann working as a nurse in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital until she retired last year.
Laura added: “Eilidh works so hard to keep us all together and is such a selfless person.
“She really is a real-life angel and we are all so proud of her. I always say I wish I could be more like her.”
Meanwhile, when the pandemic began and changed life for the foreseeable future, Pollok woman Caroline Wilson didn’t think twice about going the extra mile to be there for someone who needed her help the most.
Caroline moved mum Mary Dunsmore, 81, into the family home so she could be there to
care for her full-time alongside husband Gary, 41, and daughters Hannah, 17, and 14-year-old Emily.
And after several weeks of combining her role on the frontline with Home Bargains, in Auldhouse, the 56-year-old has since been placed into furlough so she can be there 24/7 for her mum, who suffers from dementia.
Proud Gary said: “Around 10 days before lockdown, we made the decision to bring Caroline’s mum to live with us because she had been in sheltered housing and we knew there was a chance they could lockdown.
READ MORE: Meet Glasgow's keyworker heroes: A paramedic, shop worker, and home carer
“Caroline was still going to work but decided she wanted to be there for her mum. Her work were phenomenal and did all they could to help.
“She was there for us and cared for the girls growing up, so it felt like it was time to give back.
“We’ve been watching old films like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and doing our bit to help.
“Caroline is such a selfless person. She does so much for so many people.”
Finally, Michelle McGinlay has hailed her mum Cathy Lennox for being a rock during testing times and for supporting her family through everything.
Easterhouse woman Cathy, 58, spends six days a week serving people in Asda at the Forge Retail Park, which she has done for 24 years, while dedicating her free time to helping Michelle with girls Olivia, 4, and two-year-old Molly.
Michelle sadly lost her father Robert to cancer when he was only 35 and later sister Paula passed away.
But, Cathy, who is now married to taxi driver Willie, has been there for Michelle through it all.
Michelle, 33, said: “She is working six days a week, but really it is seven as she spends her day off with them and is a brilliant mum and gran.
“She is just amazing and never asks for anything in return.
“We recognise the NHS, but people like my mum are also on the frontline.”
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here