Vigil remembers care home’s virus victims

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This article was published 11/11/2020 (1956 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The anguish felt by those huddled together, clutching candles, in front of Maples Personal Care Home was fresh and raw Wednesday evening, but Larry Baillie had just a few hours to process his own profound grief.

The Winnipegger’s 88-year-old father, Glen, a retired Toronto police officer, died of COVID-19 at the long-term care facility earlier in the day.

“He died at 10:54 (a.m.). He’ll be another number, maybe next week,” Larry said, his voice trembling. “Too many families have gone through this. It has to stop.”

An outbreak at Maples had claimed 22 lives as of Tuesday, according to provincial health officials. The centre is owned by Revera, an Ontario-based company that also operates Parkview Place, another home in crisis.

The hastily organized vigil drew about three dozen people, most who had either lost a loved to the virus or still had a relative living inside the facility on Mandalay Drive.

Glen Baillie had resided there since early 2018 after years running businesses with his wife in Banff.

The last three weeks have been a nightmare for the former resident of Stony Mountain and his family, said Larry, adding he’s found solace knowing he shared special moments with his father near the end.

“Through the hard work of Manitoba health officials, me and Dad were the first end-of-life COVID-19 family that were able to visit each other in hospital as he was passing,” said Baillie. “I spent three evenings with him. I sang Delta Dawn, my dad’s favourite song, about 50 times, and I can’t sing. It meant so much. My dad opened his eyes.

“The last time I talked to my dad, he was non-responsive… but he opened his eyes and said, ‘I love you.’ It meant so much to me.”

Glen was tested for COVID-19 on Saturday, Oct. 24, and the family was promised by Maples it would only be notified if it came back positive. By Tuesday, there was no communication between the care home and the Baillies, who assumed Glen was likely negative but continued to make calls to get an answer.

“We lost total communication with them. We had to chase them.

“I got talked out of having him moved to the hospital (earlier) by the medical staff and also a paramedic. I will take that to my death.”

Kevin Baillie said he felt compelled to participate in the vigil not only to honour the memory of his grandfather but as a sign of support for other families suffering a loss during the pandemic.

“Our story is not unique. There are too many families going through this pain and suffering of losing someone.” he said.

Vigil organizer Laura Henry’s grandmother, Joan Moses, is a resident of Maples, and she worries for her health and safety.

“We just got an update that she is now negative, but her health isn’t great because of it,” said Henry. “There weren’t enough nurses, so she was dehydrated and not eating food.”

Karen Bluschke lost her 80-year-old mother-in-law, Brenda Gregory, to COVID-19 last Friday.

“She had only been here since early October. This was not our first choice,” said Bluschke. “(On Nov. 2) she told her son, ‘Nobody’s been in to see me, I’m sitting in my own urine-soaked diaper.’ We couldn’t get through (to Maples). No response to emails, no response to phone calls.”

Brenda tested positive early last week.

“On Tuesday, she was rushed to the hospital, and Wednesday we were told it wasn’t looking good. We had a Zoom (video conference) with her and she said, ‘I’m gonna fight the COVID.’ That was the last time she spoke to us,” Bluschke said. “On Thursday, they prepared us and said they would make her comfortable, and then Friday morning we did one last Zoom but she wasn’t conscious anymore. It took 12 hours for her to die.

“It’s the worst thing you’ll ever see in your life, someone dying from COVID.”

 

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell