As February went on, there was more and more talk about the coronavirus. The first time we heard about it was probably in early January when we were in Thailand, and the Bangkok Post reported that a Chinese tourist had been hospitalised because of a new mysterious virus in Northern Thailand. On February 25th, Elli sent me a message saying that the news had reported the first confirmed covid case in Catalonia, but it still took a while before the gravity of the situation really sank in.
After Saimi was born, Elli’s parents had booked flights to Barcelona, and they came to visit for a few days at the beginning of March. At that point, there were still no covid restrictions at the hospital, so the grandparents were able to visit the neonatal unit, and grandma was able to hold Saimi for the very first time. Luckily, they managed to visit us just before the pandemic truly hit Barcelona
In early March, the number of covid cases increased at an accelerating pace, and the news was filled with more and more talk about it. At the hospital, we were disappointed to hear that Saimi was being moved back to the shared room with seven other babies. It was a bit of a blow to our spirits, because being in that noisy environment was not too pleasant. At the same time, the hospital also began introducing various restrictions, and soon after the move, visits to the neonatal unit were prohibited for everyone except parents. In a way, that restriction came as a small relief, because the room was now more peaceful and less chaotic.
When we lived in Barcelona, we used to cycle a lot in the mountains of Serra Collserola – or maybe more accurately, the hills – surrounding the city. Elli’s workplace was on the other side of the hills, and every now and then I cycled with her to the top in the morning and met her there again in the afternoon. The summits offer spectacular views over Barcelona. In the other direction, one can see across Cerdanyola del Vallès, and on a clear day, the picturesque Montserrat mountains stand out in the distance.
Serra de Collserola is criss-crossed with numerous walking and cycling trails that lead to places like the famous Mount Tibidabo, topped by a grand church that is visible from all over Barcelona. The best part of Serra Collserola is that it’s easy to find a quiet spot in those hills to just enjoy nature and the silence. So, I decided to rent a bike for a month, thinking that cycling would do me good both mentally and physically. Reaching the familiar hilltop for the first time in a long time felt truly liberating: admiring the views, riding the forest trails, and finally coasting back down into the city.
I often promised Saimi that I would take her to those hills as soon as it was possible, but that moment never came. When I visited Barcelona after Saimi had passed away, I rented a bike again and cycled to the places where I had hoped to take her one day. At one of my favorite spots, I sat on a bank on the hillside, thought about Saimi, and talked to her. Saimi was present then too, but not in the way I had hoped.
The relief I got from cycling ended up being a one-time thing, as extensive covid restrictions were rapidly introduced in Barcelona and throughout Spain by mid-March. A lockdown was imposed, and all non-essential services, such as restaurants and bars, had to close their doors. Luckily, though, restaurants were still allowed to offer takeaway, which made things a lot easier for us while we were at the hospital. In principle, people were only allowed to go outside for compelling reasons, like visiting the nearest grocery store or restaurant. It was a bit amusing to note that tobacco shops and barbers were actually considered necessary services. Apparently, getting a haircut was deemed a necessity. However, I think the restrictions were quite soon tightened to include barbershops.
Walking a pet was also an acceptable reason to be outdoors, and I remember people lending their pets to each other just so they could go out without being fined. I think some even walked toy animals on leashes, although I do not know how that worked out. I must admit, it really annoyed me that cycling all alone in the mountains was forbidden. Although the general atmosphere became increasingly tense, we stubbornly tried to maintain a positive attitude.
We, of course, had to walk between the hospital and our apartment every day. We both carried a note from the hospital describing our situation, so that we could justify being out if the police decided to stop us. We never needed to show the note to anyone, though, but I saw the police stopping young people and, I guess, asking why they were out. I slightly defied the rules by often walking home over the hill of Parc del Guinardó, which was almost on the way, with a small detour. I often sat down, looked over Barcelona, and just thought for a while. Besides Serra de Collserola, Parc del Guinardó has become an important place for me. It is also another place that I promised Saimi we would visit together someday.
As the restrictions tightened, the hoarding began. When I heard the news that a state of emergency was about to be declared, I thought that I should head to the grocery store and the pharmacy to buy some basic supplies for our apartment. When I finally got to the store, empty shelves were waiting for me, or actually, they were almost empty. All the meat products were gone, but to my delight, the vegetarian section was almost untouched. Similarly, every single roll of toilet paper had been bought, yet there were piles of paper towel rolls left.
Next, I went to the pharmacy to buy face masks and hand sanitiser, but they were sold out in all the pharmacies I visited. To my shock, they were also running low at the hospital, as apparently some visitors were stealing hand sanitiser and hoarding face masks. For a moment, I feared that if the masks ran out and we couldn’t find any, we might not be allowed into the hospital. Fortunately, the hospital was able to manage their use, and the supply was secured.
Elli’s friend living in Amsterdam had booked flights to Barcelona earlier. Initially, it was a nice idea for her to visit for a couple of days, but the situation changed dramatically after she had bought the tickets. Her flight was on the same day I heard that a state of emergency was about to be declared. However, the news came too late, as she was already on the plane when I messaged her. At that point, no one really knew what was going to happen and, for example, if all flights would be cancelled. My stress levels were through the roof, as I worried she would get stuck with us and, in the worst-case scenario, we would be all isolated in the apartment. Fortunately, that didn’t happen. She flew back home on schedule, and we were able to visit Saimi as usual.
At this point, we were afraid of catching anything, as any kind of flu or illness could have prevented us from visiting the hospital and being with Saimi. Luckily, we stayed perfectly healthy. At the hospital, we were now in the shared room, and we continued taking turns to spend the entire day with Saimi. Even though the world outside the hospital started to look increasingly worrying, everything was still going well for Saimi. However, she had a lot of abdominal bloating. Despite investigations, no specific cause was found, and it was assumed to be the kind of common abdominal swelling often seen in premature babies.
The amount of milk Saimi received was increased gradually. For the most part, the milk was still given through a nasogastric tube, but since the beginning of February, Saimi had also been practicing breastfeeding. Saimi was growing at a steady pace, and by mid-March, she already weighed one and a half kilograms. Around that time, we were able to give Saimi a proper bath for the first time.
At first, Saimi seemed a bit nervous about being in the water, but after splashing around for a while, she clearly started to enjoy the sound and sensation of the water. She calmed down and watched us intently. Maybe it was a sign that she would become a real little water baby in the future.
