When it rains, it pours. As COVID-19 took hold in March, I went into lockdown, working from home and diligently protecting myself and others. Then in mid-August, my 89-year-old father landed in the hospital with a massive infection in his leg. My sister and I – both of whom had spent the previous six months in virtual isolation except for sporadic trips to the grocery store – donned our medical masks, grabbed our hand sanitizer and ventured onto the front lines.
The pandemic was in full force, although cases had slowed somewhat, but spending every waking hour in a hospital was still a daunting prospect. It would have been scary and stressful at the best of times, and COVID made it 100 times more so.
Thankfully, my dad recovered some mobility and is now happily ensconced in an assisted living home. But those weeks at the hospital were a wake-up call in so many ways, not least of which was a lasting appreciation for the dedication and commitment of everyone who looked after him – and us – during that difficult time.
Instead of Grassroots Heroes, we’re calling it “In Their Own Words,” because what these remarkable people have to say needs no interpretation or embellishment. They tell their stories openly and honestly, their experiences as raw as they are inspiring.
From the amazing doctor who fought the infection and explained to dad why it wasn’t safe for him to return home, to the nurses who gave him intravenous antibiotics and other meds, the physio and occupational therapists who kept him moving so his leg didn’t ‘die’ and have to be removed, the diagnosticians who took x-rays, MRIs and ECGs, the personal support workers who bathed him and helped him with daily functions, and the many other workers who fed him, changed his sheets, cleaned his room, and generally kept his spirits up. Not to mention those behind the scenes preparing the meals, ordering personal protective equipment, making sure protocols were followed, and sanitizing, sanitizing, sanitizing.
As I began working on this issue of On The Bay, I was planning to devote our usual Grassroots Heroes feature to frontline workers, but after seeing for myself all the moving parts that are involved in running a hospital, and the courage and commitment it takes to show up every day during a pandemic, I decided to switch gears and focus this issue on the staff of the Collingwood General & Marine Hospital.
Instead of Grassroots Heroes, we’re calling it “In Their Own Words,” because what these remarkable people have to say needs no interpretation or embellishment. They tell their stories openly and honestly, their experiences as raw as they are inspiring.
In our Spring issue we’ll publish Part 2 featuring people from other professions on the front lines. But this issue is dedicated to everyone who keeps our small but mighty hospital going – stepping into the fray every day, keeping us safe, and putting our health and wellbeing ahead of their own.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you all. Calling you heroes doesn’t do you justice. ❧
Janet Lees, Editor
