Cancer patient gets COVID in Juravinski outbreak
Rick Wright had no hesitation going to Juravinski Hospital for cancer surgery in the midst of a pandemic.
That doesn't weigh on me at all," he told The Spectator on Nov. 17 for a story about how fear of hospitals during COVID-19 is delaying cancer care.
I just wear the mask like everybody else and get it done," said the 72-year-old Smithville man.
Wright's surgery was Dec. 1 with complications leading to another surgery Dec. 4, putting him squarely in the path of the virus when an outbreak was declared Dec. 3 on the E3 unit.
It spread rapidly through five units of the Mountain brow hospital hitting E4, where Wright was hospitalized on Dec. 11. He tested positive later that day, says his wife Rosemary Wright.
We did everything we could to stay away from it and he got it in the hospital," she said. I think he's scared."
Rosemary found out her husband had COVID when she went to visit him on Dec. 11 and staff wouldn't let her inside the hospital at 711 Concession St. She says she was given a phone number to call and waited 45 minutes on hold in her car before getting the news.
They said, they're sorry and it was happening very fast," she said. I felt like people really need to inform people, but on the other hand, I have no idea what it's like to work in that environment and be in the middle of something like that, so I do try to be empathetic."
The outbreak, which started with three cases, is now up to 71 infections including 31 patients. At least three have died.
Rosemary says her husband has been transferred to the COVID unit at Hamilton General Hospital and has no symptoms.
Thank God he's OK, but I mean, maybe he's not going to be OK," she said. His immune system is through the basement."
In addition to recovering from two cancer surgeries, he has diabetes, a chronic heart issue, uses a machine at night to help him breathe and is in one of the most high-risk age groups.
All the things they tell you are the most vulnerable," said his wife. Anybody who knew anybody was thinking about him and praying for him ... something is working because so far he's asymptomatic and I know things can change."
Her focus now is getting him out of the hospital because she no longer has faith that it's safe there.
I just want him to come home," she said.
However, she's in quarantine herself until Dec 23 despite, so far, testing negative. She doesn't know if she owes money for his transfer to Hamilton General or if she'll have to pay to have him brought home. She hasn't been told what equipment he'll need.
She also worries how the virus will affect his cancer recovery and what it will mean for his long-term health.
That's just another nasty aspect of COVID," she said. The worst thing is the after-effects of people who have had it and seem to be sicker after. It can go on and on and on."
As of Friday, it has been a week since Rosemary has seen her husband in person - the longest stretch they have ever been apart in their 51 years of marriage.
Their phone calls leave her concerned about how he's holding up because she says COVID patients can't have a television hooked up and he doesn't know how to connect his laptop computer to the hospital's Wi-Fi.
Cellphones aren't his friend. He's got these huge hands and those little buttons," Rosemary said about her husband, who loves working as a caretaker at Hamilton District Christian High School since retiring from Ball Packaging.
He spent his 72nd birthday on Dec. 16 alone in the hospital. She doesn't know what Christmas will bring.
We decided in our family, if we have to postpone Grandpa's birthday and Christmas, then that is what we're going to do." said Rosemary. It hasn't been a fairy tale. It's been a COVID story."
She doesn't regret that her husband went for the surgery, which removed cancer at a very early stage. Although, she says his surgeon hasn't been able to do normal postoperative care.
She says the doctor has called her a couple of times to say, I'm so sorry. I'm not even going near the hospital."
Rosemary said the family thought their biggest COVID worry was her 95-year-old mom in long-term care.
You haven't been able to see them," she said. They don't get human touch. It's really sad. I tell my mom, put one hand on your shoulder and put the other hand across on the other shoulder and give yourself a squeeze because that's as close as I'm getting to hug you."
She never imagined it was her husband who was at risk instead.
This year is like living in the twilight zone," she said. He's going to be OK because we're not taking not OK for a solution."
Joanna Frketich is a Hamilton-based reporter covering health for The Spectator. Reach her via email: jfrketich@thespec.com