Even at an extremely dire time and with his own life in peril, a personal support worker (PSW) from Roberta Place still had the Barrie facility's residents top of mind.
Edwin Ng, a 48-year-old father of three and grandfather of two, became sick with COVID-19 on Saturday, Jan. 16. He remains in stable but critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Toronto General Hospital.
His wife, Samantha, says the last time she was able to communicate with him was before he was sedated.
“Even when Edwin was at the hospital, before being sedated he was still asking about the residents at Roberta Place and other staff," Samantha told BarrieToday. "He kept on saying that he wishes he’d be better already so he could go to work and take care of them.
“He even said now he knows how some of his residents felt being bedridden and so sick and that he would make sure once he was back at work to be more gentle with them and give them the extra care and love," she added.
A GoFundMe drive has reached more than $36,000, while family and friends continue to pray for him.
The Roberta Place long-term care home on Essa Road has been in outbreak since Jan. 8. Since then, 66 residents and one essential caregiver have died from COVID.
Ng was at Barrie's Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) until Sunday when he was transferred to Toronto General.
“On Monday, he was hooked up on the ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine in the ICU,” Samantha said. “Doctors say it is really a very long slow process. They need his organs, especially his lungs and kidneys, to heal.”
Ng was initially heavily sedated and paralyzed, but Samantha said they were able to take him off the paralytics and switch some of the sedation medication.
“They are taking their time in lowering sedation meds as they want him calm and resting to heal. Seeing him initiating breaths is one improvement they have seen and happy about,” she said. “Baby steps, as they say.
"I know and have faith that he will get through this," his wife added.
A GoFundMe page was created for Ng and his family by a fellow Roberta Place worker and it currently sits at $36,175.
A Facebook group in support of the residents, families and Roberta Place workers was also created a few weeks ago and there have been many posts in support of Edwin.
“I was really shocked and overwhelmed with the outpouring of support and love we have been getting,” said Samantha. “It’s really nice to see how loved Edwin is and see how much impact he has on people's lives.”
Ng’s family hasn't been able to communicate directly with him or see him due to COVID-19 protocols, but Samantha said they have been able to FaceTime so he can hear them and they can pray with him.
“It is very hard seeing him with the state he is in now, especially with all the tubes and wires. But we are staying strong and hanging on,” said Samantha. “Our youngest son gets really emotional when he sees his dad like that, but he’s strong for a nine-year-old and keeps telling his dad to keep fighting and, of course, we all miss him so much.”
Samantha said she views her husband as a “true hero" and outlined how he goes out of his way to help people all the time.
“Edwin has this thing that he does, he calls it his deed of the day. He tries to do one good deed everyday, whether it’s helping shovel a neighbour’s driveway, helping an elderly person carry their groceries, or even just opening a door for someone at the mall or store. That’s just the kind of person he is,” she said.
Samantha also wanted people to know she's saving as many of the kind comments and well wishes as she can. When Edwin is awake and recovered, he can see them.
Until then, his family will pray and continue to miss him.
“It’s so hard not having him around. The house is so quiet. He loves to joke around and play tricks with the kids and not being there with him to hold him and care for him just breaks my heart," Samantha said. "Staff, doctors and especially his nurses and the spiritual care representative, at both RVH and Toronto General, have been amazing and I know he is in good hands.”
To donate to the GoFundMe page, click here.
