Grateful patient story
2020-08-19
...this past March was COVID-19.
“We came back when the government instructed all Canadians
to return, but I started feeling unwell early on during my quarantine at home,”
she recalls.
By the 4th day back in Eastern Ontario, Marie* (name changed to protect privacy) was coughing
and had shortness of breath, so she decided to visit the COVID-19 Assessment
Centre in Hawkesbury. There, her oxygen levels were so low the doctor on-site
recommended she go to the hospital immediately.
Once at the Hawkesbury General Hospital, Marie’s illness worsened.
It became apparent that her rapidly deteriorating condition required more
intensive care, so her doctors arranged for a transfer to Cornwall Community
Hospital.
“CCH is the only hospital outside of Ottawa in our region
with ventilator capacity,” says Jeanette Despatie, President and CEO, Cornwall
Community Hospital. “Our physicians and staff have trained extensively to help
give patients like Marie the best chance at recovery. We are proud to offer
this life-saving equipment and important medical expertise, especially during
the pandemic.”
Much of Marie’s memory from her time spent at Cornwall
Community Hospital is vague. She was in a coma for three and a half weeks at
CCH and remembers waking up unsure of where she was or what had happened. Through the fog of COVID-19, she does
remember the kindness of a nurse she calls “my angel.” Awakening from her coma,
Marie says, “after I had the ventilator removed, all I wanted were popsicles,
and she made sure I had some!”
When she was strong enough, Marie was
discharged back to Hawkesbury General Hospital. With the sun shining through the door, paramedics brought her outside
for the first time in weeks and staff played the Beatles’ song, “Here comes the
sun”. Her care team all clapped and cheered; a meaningful moment for all
hospital employees who were involved in Marie’s care. In total, she spent over 50 days in
hospital between Hawkesbury and Cornwall during her ordeal with COVID-19. When
asked about CCH, she says, “I am extremely grateful for the care I received,
and for the staff who saved my life.”