Art teacher Melanie Bradshaw’s daughter Isla, (/ˈaɪlə/ EYE-lə), traditionally a Scottish name with a silent S, contracted the Coronavirus from a daycare staff employee. Isla is one year old and still nursing. 

Inevitably,  the situation was complicated, for there is no safe way to completely isolate an infant. For these factors, Mrs. Bradshaw knew that the next few weeks would mean isolation and remoteness for their whole family. 

Mrs. Bradshaw stopped going to school to do her lessons once she found out a staff member at her daughter’s school tested positive for the virus. She brought Isla to get a Coronavirus test, and the result was positive.

Teaching and treating Isla for Coronavirus was tough, and it took a lot of trial and error. Mrs. Bradshaw no longer had an art studio to work from, which meant no more fluorescent lights, endless space and unlimited materials. 

While Isla had the Coronavirus she had a cough, some digestive issues and a runny nose. She also had a low fever for a day or two. Due to these conditions and her age, Isla had to be continually watched, which made doing zoom lessons difficult for Mrs. Bradshaw. 

After trying various forms of painting and lecturing while entertaining Isla, Mrs. Bradshaw realized making videos for her students to watch would be more productive. She was able to stay on zoom calls and answer questions, but most of the lecture was done through a pre-recorded video. 

Isla is only one, but she is a talker who does not quite understand the concept of school being in session.  

Most of Isla’s symptoms are now gone except for a lingering cough. 

The circumstances of Coronavirus, not the actual virus, is what ultimately affected her family.  Due to the isolation their family endured, there was no longer a separation between school, work, health and family. 

“I think we learned to appreciate each other through this,” Mrs. Bradshaw reflected on their family’s quarantine.