We talk a lot about the toll of lockdowns on children. On parents. On teachers. On those who must work from home and those who cannot work at all.

And rightfully so.

It is impossible to determine who suffers the most in lockdown, a futile competition that ends with everyone yelling at each other. With Victoria in the midst of their sixth lockdown, and parts of New South Wales entering their 10th week, our compassion, it seems, is wearing thin.

At least that's what I thought before this week.

Before I mentioned, in passing, my cousin Simon.

If Simon were to enter the futile competition that is Who Is Having The Hardest Time During Lockdown? I reckon he'd have a real shot at a medal.

Simon lives in South-West Sydney, which is currently under some of the tightest lockdown restrictions in New South Wales. Although fully vaccinated, Simon has pre-existing health conditions that mean he would be at risk if he caught the virus. As a result, he can't really leave his house much. He also lives with an intellectual disability.

I'm frustrated by lockdown, but at least I understand it. And I accept it.

Simon, though, cannot understand. He can't leave the house, and he doesn't really know why.

We've explained it to him, of course. Disability support workers have done an incredible job of explaining to Simon and others in their care the seriousness of what's going on. But Simon's disability is such that it won't ever, really, make sense.

When we speak on the phone, Simon begins every conversation with the same three words.

"Not long now," he says hopefully. It's phrased like a statement but I know it's a question. I repeat it and then we speak vaguely about a few more weeks, and what we'll do as soon as he can enter the world again.

Then, a few weeks ago, he reminded me his 36th birthday was coming up.

Usually for his birthday, we go and see a musical. Our extended family will go out for dinner and Simon will get a ridiculous amount of presents. This year that wasn't going to be possible.

So on last Friday's episode of Mamamia Out Loud, in a segment where we talk about our best and worst moments of the week, I said I felt sad for Simon. Our family wanted to make his birthday, which was coming up on Wednesday, special. I told listeners how I'd asked Simon what I could send him in a box, and he kept repeating 'takeaway coffee'. For context, during last year's lockdown, when the rules permitted, I would drop him a takeaway coffee on a Saturday morning because, like me, coffee is his favourite thing in the world. But now with a five kilometre radius in place, I can't even do that. I also said that all he wants is to go and see a musical because... obviously.

All weekend, the messages from Out Louders rolled in.

If you want to hear more about Simon's story, listen to Mia's No Filter interview. Post continues below.

Many said, "Just Uber Eats him a coffee!" which for some reason I hadn't even considered.

Others said, "Not sure where Simon lives exactly, but I live (insert place) and if that's within five kilometres, I can drop him a coffee."

By Sunday night, I had a message from Lucy Durack.

Lucy Durack, for anyone who doesn't know much about musicals, is theatre royalty. She played the lead role inWickedandLegally Blonde,both of which Simon thoroughly enjoyed.