Baby comes home from hospital, but mother still in coma
An Abbotsford infant whose mother is on life-support and fighting COVID-19 in the ICU, has finally gone home with his father.
“Today is a bittersweet day,” David McIntosh said in a statement. “I'm overjoyed that my newborn baby boy has been released from the hospital today.
“Although I've had the fortunate opportunity to spend time and cuddle him in the NICU for the past two weeks, it has been a long and difficult wait to officially welcome him home. We are devastated that his mom is still fighting for her life in the ICU with COVID-19 and not able to share in his homecoming.”
McIntosh said his wife, Gillian, is fighting hard but is still “very, very sick.” She remains in an induced coma on a ventilator, and her condition isn't improving.
“The virus has caused significant damage to a majority of her lung tissue. If and when she is able to come off the ventilator, she is likely to have a lifetime of complications and will have difficulty caring for our children and returning to work,” he said.
A GoFundMe page to help support the family has exceeded
$75,000. McIntosh hasn't been able to return to his job as a machine operator for a Langley company and will have to stay home to care for his newborn son and the couple's daughter, Gemma, 3.
Gillian McIntosh, 37, was 36 weeks' pregnant when she was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Nov. 6. Shortly afterward she began to experience serious breathing difficulties. McIntosh was hospitalized and on Nov. 10 was put on a ventilator. Her medical team decided to deliver by C-section that night.
Dave McIntosh was unable to meet his newborn son for 36 hours, while he completed quarantine. McIntosh and his newborn both
tested negative for the virus. The family doesn't know where Gillian McIntosh contracted the virus.
In a statement on the GoFundMe page, Dave McIntosh said: “Despite following all the recommendations from our health authorities, our family has learned first-hand the cruel and unpredictable nature of COVID-19.
“There are many things we can do to help others and limit risks in our world. ... we do them because they cost us little but can have a huge impact on someone else.”
He has said he'll wait until his wife emerges from the coma so they can name the baby together.