My stepfather just spent 12 days in Delta Hospital for a serious blood infection.
It all began with my call to 911. The operator was assuring and calm.
Delta firefighters arrived quickly and stabilized him, followed by two paramedics who assessed him for the trip to hospital. He spent a night in emergency and the next day had a room.
He was cared for by doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, cleaners, and food services staff to name a few. He was, a week later, safely transferred for tests at Peach Arch Hospital with a nurse escort. This was all done under the oppressive constraints of a pandemic.
You can imagine the dismay my family felt on Sept. 1 when we watched anti-vaccine passport protesters disrupting access to provincial hospitals and harassing health care workers.
My daughter was in tears. Her social media nursing page was filled with postings by distraught staff inside hospitals while the demonstrators outside chanted and raged against mandatory vaccines.
The irony is those health care workers will be working to save the unvaccinated if and when they get COVID-19, and they will do so without bias.
I understand why anti-vaccine groups are upset. As of Sept. 13 we must have proof of one vaccine, and then two vaccines by Oct. 24 in order to enter most events, businesses and services.
Let’s not underestimate this. Proof of vaccination is going to be a burden for everyone, but despite the hassle I’m on board, because vaccines protect us from the Delta variant and keep us out of hospital if we do get sick.
Our health care workers deserve to be treated with respect and support, not abuse. Society needs to get back to some kind of new normal so our economy can thrive and our children can safely attend school.
My thoughtful neighbour, so outraged by the protests, dropped off six boxes of Purdys chocolates with thank you cards to the staff at Delta Hospital. She was tired of her own inaction and wanted to show her support.
The days of pots banging at 7 p.m. feel like a distant memory, so it behoves us to find ways to show our appreciation to health care workers as pandemic fatigue sets in.
On a sunny September afternoon a nurse wheeled my step dad to my car for the trip home. As spry as ever, there’s no doubt he’ll be celebrating his 90th birthday in December, thanks to Delta Hospital and its amazing team.
Ingrid Abbott is a freelance writer who reminds everyone that you do not need proof of vaccination to vote on Sept. 20, so exercise your rights.
