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A retired nurse who returned to the frontline during the Covid-19 crisis has vaccinated two of her daughters – who work as nurses at the same hospital.
Marian Mitchell came out of early retirement at the beginning of the pandemic to support colleagues at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford.
The 66-year-old grandmother could have been forgiven for putting her feet up after five decades working in the NHS and four grandchildren to run after.
Instead Marian, of New Ash Green, donned her scrubs once again as she returned as an occupational health nurse after six years away.
And there was some good news for Marian and her family this week as the Pfizer vaccination continues its rollout to frontline workers at Darent Valley.
Among those waiting in line was Marian's two daughters – Miranda Paddy, 35, a sister in the hospital at home team, and oldest daughter Melanie Williams, 40, a clinical site practitioner, both at the same hospital.
It came as little surprise therefore to see the nurse responsible for carrying out their jab on the day was none other than their own mum, Marian.
Youngest daughter Miranda posted online earlier today: "This morning I received my Covid vaccine. 2020 has been horrendous for so many people. This gives me hope for 2021."
She quipped: "Also the mad woman giving me the vaccine is my mum... look how happy she is to be stabbing me."
It's been a tough year for the family. Marian contracted coronavirus on her return to the wards and she was forced to isolate alongside Miranda, who also caught the infection.
But once the grandmother had recovered she went straight back to work and even donated her plasma – containing antibodies to fight off infection – to help others.
"We call her Graggy," said Marian's other daughter Emma Queen, who also worked in the NHS but is now shielding due to a Meniere's disease diagnosis, a disorder of the ear that can lead to dizzy spells and hearing loss.
The 38-year-old, who lives in Margate, says she is "extremely proud" of her sisters and mum who she says is a role model for her and her sisters.
"When I spoke to her about it she was just happy to be doing something," she said. "Otherwise she would just be at home, she felt helpless and just wanted to help."
But as a grandmother to four – two boys and two girls, including caring responsibilities for Miranda's child Matthew, seven, who has autism – Emma says she would have been justified in staying home.
"She could have just said no and used an excuse. But instead she just said 'no I'm going to go back out there'" she said.
Emma added: "It was really hard because when my mum got Covid they all had to isolate together."
However, it was never in doubt her mum would offer to return to work at the hospital, according to Emma, who says her mum was concerned about the plight of former colleagues.
She went on to explain how her mum would take them on homecare shifts when they were younger and this is likely where her sisters drew inspiration for their own career choices.
Her dad Malcolm Michell, 75, is a retired firefighter who would work different shift patterns from mum Marian.
"My dad would work shifts and they would swap and never see each other," she said.
"She would take us out to visit homes in the 1980s – we would love it."
It is testament to her mum's selfless "character" she adds, who has balanced her passion for nursing alongside three kids, as well as running a home.
Such was her resolve she even returned to get her formal nursing qualifications later in life as they were not available when she first entered the profession.
And now Emma hopes the image of her mum vaccinating her two sisters will encourage others to step up and get "jabbed" when they can.
"It shows to those scared of the vaccine a mother administering it to her children, it’s so important."
