Pictures show joy and pain of grandmother who longs to cuddle her grandson living on same street

It is a smile that speaks volumes about the pride and longinggrandmother Pamela Scaplehorn is feeling.

And it can always be seen when her grandson Oliver arrives at thewindow with his mother Joanna.

Although always delighted to see Oliver, it is still painful forPamela that she is only able to see him through the window and not beable to hold or touch him.

Oliver lives with his parents Joanna and Chris in the same Pontypriddstreet as Pamela, and they visit every day.

Pamela, 63, has been shielding since before lockdown because she had akidney transplant more than 40 years ago, and is restricted fromcarrying out the normal grandmother duties she so desperately wants tobe involved in.

Pamela's kidney function is very low so she should be on dialysis, butdaughter Joanna says they are trying to put it off for as long aspossible to avoid going into hospital in case she is infected.

"I had a kidney transplant 40 years ago from a 45-year-old female whohad died from a brain haemorrhage," says Pamela.

"It was only a 40 percent match but it has worked wonderfully for me until recent years.

"I am so very grateful to the donor's family and indeed to the manymedical staff who have cared for me to date. My kidney is now slowlyfailing, but luckily I feel generally well, although I know I must goon dialysis again imminently."

Pamela's kidneys had originally failed due to high blood pressure andshe was spending 12 hours a day three times a week on dialysis beforeher transplant when she was 22.

She went on to have two children and is grateful that she had beenable to hold her grandson when he was born two-and-half months ago.Able to watch him being fed and bathed also gave her great joy, butthat all stopped when the lockdown was announced and Pamela had toshield because she is on the extremely vulnerable list.

"In January I fell and fractured my right wrist and my left knee,"says Pamela. "I had my right arm in a plaster cast and my left leg ina heavy brace for six weeks.

"During that time, living alone, I hardly left the house and dependedon my daughter Joanna and friends to visit me and bring my shopping.So I was in a kind of lockdown then.

"Just before the end of that period, Joanna gave birth to my beautifulfirst grandchild Oliver. I felt so blessed to be able to hold Oliverand watch him being fed, bathed by Joanna and her partner Chris, whofortunately live opposite me."

But the excitement was short-lived and when Oliver was two weeks oldthe lockdown rules were introduced in the UK.

Joanna, 35, says: "It has been really hard because Oliver was only acouple of weeks old when we went into lockdown. It has been busy forus and we have lost out on lots of things, but the biggest loser inall this has been mum.

"It has been hard, but we are both positive people, and the dailyvisits are important for all of us. We are all trying to keep ourspirits up, and we have good days and bad days."

Pamela says: "I’ve been really lucky compared to most grandparents asJoanna and Chris bring Oliver to my window daily so I can at least seehim.

"It is something I really look forward to every day, but it is stillfrustrating as I want to hold Oliver.

"During this lockdown, I have watched Oliver grow, gurgle and smilewhich melts me! Oliver is forming into quite a personality of his own.

"When the lockdown is totally lifted, I am extremely looking forwardto holding Oliver, going out with him and Joanna to parks, the beachand really enjoy being his grandmother or as he will call me Pamgu.

"I only hope I am healthy enough to be able to see Oliver grow."