May 1, 2020
After spending five weeks at the Royal Alexandra Hospital overcoming COVID-19, pneumonia — and treatment for a fractured pelvis — 80-year-old Colette Sevigny was discharged Thursday to the cheers of staff and physicians on Unit 34.
Story by Sharman Hnatiuk; Photo Credit by Stacey Middleton
EDMONTON — A fractured pelvis, pneumonia and COVID-19 have proven no match for the sheer staying power of Colette Sevigny. In fact, the 80-year-old was showered with cheers from staff and physicians Thursday upon her discharge from the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) following a five-week stay.
Her battle began when the Shepherd’s Care Kensington Village resident — while following isolation protocols for potential exposure to COVID-19 — experienced a fall and required urgent care.
Colette was admitted to Unit 34 at the RAH on March 24. Initially, her family was able to have restricted visitation, but later protocols put in place across the province to prevent the spread of COVID-19 suspended all in-person visitation at the hospital.
To help her stay connected with family, caregivers on the unit helped Colette communicate with an iPad.
“The staff on the unit were always available to help mom video chat with us, and anytime we called the desk to say we lost the connection, they were always quick to assist with getting her connected again,” says her daughter Louise Sevigny.
Even her first steps in the hallway using a walker were shared over video chat thanks to her physiotherapy team on the unit.
For Sandra Tisi, patient care manager for in-patient surgery at the RAH, watching Louise’s emotional reunion with her mother is a moment she says she’ll never forget.
“Our staff recognize the importance of the visitor restrictions, but they too feel the challenges of our patients not being able to see their loved ones,” Tisi adds.
“Watching the reunion — and getting to celebrate in Colette’s discharge from the unit — was a rewarding experience for the team, and a reminder of how much the work they do each day matters.”
However, after losing her husband of 58 years in January, the Edmonton woman says she felt determined to get well.
“I didn’t want them to lose me so soon after losing their father,” she adds. “I also have my first great-grandchild coming in July. I was motivated to get better and get moving.”
Now that Colette is home with her family, Louise and her siblings are so grateful of the care their mother received during her five-week stay at the RAH.
“Our family cannot thank the people who work on that unit enough,” says Louise. “They cared and loved our mom when we couldn’t be there. They are part of our family now.”
