A young mother who has recently returned to work at Sainsbury’s after taking time off while her two-year-old daughter fought cancer has revealed she’s been spat at, pushed and threatened by panic buyers.
Shannon Latham, 24, from Blackpool watched helplessly as her two-year-old daughter, Cleo, was intubated and kept alive on life support after a year-long fight with an aggressive form of cancer.
She thought her ordeal was over when Cleo started to recover and she was able to return to work a few weeks ago, but has now blasted shoppers who push and shove her as she guards toilet rolls, verbally abuse her, spit on the floor at her feet
Shannon said she she may have to leave the job she loves because of greedy hoarders who abuse, push and threaten her as the battle of Britain’s shopping aisles rages.
The checkout worker said: ‘I have no choice but to leave the house and go to work to continue helping feed the nation and I don’t deserve to be downgraded and spoken to in such disgusting manner.
Shannon Latham, 24, has recently returned to work at Sainsbury’s after taking time off while her two-year-old daughter fought cancer. She has revealed she’s been spat at, pushed and threatened by panic buyers
The tot endured gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and even had to be resuscitated following a massive cardiac arrest. Thankfully, Cleo bounced back and mum, Shannon, returned to work at Sainsburys a few weeks ago following a year in hospital with her daughter.
The Sainsbury’s checkout worker (pictured left in uniform) said: ‘I have no choice but to leave the house and go to work to continue helping feed the nation and I don’t deserve to be downgraded and spoken to in such disgusting manner. She added she was worried for her immunosuppresed daughter, pictured right
‘On one occasion when I was guarding toilet rolls, other decent customers were appalled and security and another colleague had to come assist me.
‘I do not enjoy putting myself at risk of this virus daily, then going home and risking giving it to my adrenal insufficient and immunosuppressive daughter.
‘What makes people think I want to go to work and be abused? I absolutely do not.
‘What people don’t understand is that supermarket workers have families too, we are only humans and we are still going to work to help.
Despite Shannon and Cleo’s dad, Ryan, being told to expect the worst, the youngster, now aged three, finally rang the cancer ward bell in in December, signalling an end to treatment (pictured)
‘You don’t ever want to see your child intubated trust me, and her ordeal should be a reminder to everyone to stay at home and stop spreading this illness.’
Shannon was given the devastating news in January 2019 that her two-year-old daughter had cancer after her stomach swelled so much it left her looking pregnant.
Cleo also began showing early signs of puberty, including pubic hair, mood swings and greasy hair.
But tests revealed that Cleo was in fact suffering from a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Shannon returned to her job at Sainsburys (pictured in uniform) in January and says the firm showed her nothing but support during her daughter’s illness. But now she fears she may have to give up the job she loves
Despite Shannon and Cleo’s dad, Ryan, being told to expect the worst, the youngster, now aged three, finally rang the cancer ward bell in in December, signalling an end to treatment.
Shannon returned to her job at Sainsburys in January and says the firm showed her nothing but support during her daughter’s illness. But now she fears she may have to give up the job she loves.
She said: ‘I’m so proud of Cleo and wish I was as strong as her, she’s an inspiration to everyone, she deserves the world and hopefully she’ll be able to live her life like a normal child.
Shannon was given the devastating news in January 2019 that her two-year-old daughter had cancer after her stomach swelled so much it left her looking pregnant. Cleo (pictured) also began showing early signs of puberty, including pubic hair, mood swings and greasy hair.
Shannon said: ‘I’m so proud of Cleo (pictured) and wish I was as strong as her, she’s an inspiration to everyone, she deserves the world and hopefully she’ll be able to live her life like a normal child’
Cleo, pictured in hospital, has now recovered from her rare form of aggressive cancer
‘I don’t want to put my daughter at risk but I’ve had to return to work because as a family, we still need to live and I need to earn money to feed my three daughters.
‘I love my job and I love the idea that I can really help people at this awful time.
‘What I don’t deserve is abuse from shoppers.’
It comes as the UK coronavirus death toll reached 281.
Deaths jumped by 48 in 24 hours yesterday, with victims aged between 18 and 102.
The 18-year-old, who had underline health conditions and lived in the West Midlands, is Britain’s youngest victim so far.
A&E doctor and Labour MP for Tooting Dr Rosena Allin-Khan warned Britain is ‘heading for disaster’ on a par with Italy’s as hospitals in the UK approach full capacity.
After completing a shift at St George’s Hospital in south London over the weekend she stressed it is not just elderly and vulnerable patients at risk of dying of the virus.
Young and healthy Britons are being admitted to intensive care units, with a 36-year-old nurse from the West Midlands currently on life support.
As of 9am on Sunday, 78,340 people had been tested for coronavirus in the UK, with 5,683 patients confirmed positive.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the Government is ready to impose tougher restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus if people do not follow the guidance on social distancing.
His warning came after parks, beaches and nature reserves were pictured