Survivor stories from a deadly COVID-19 outbreak at a New Brunswick nursing home
CBC
When Réa Bérubé and Denise Savage met in person for the first time, they embraced as dear friends.
The two share a deep bond because of what they went through during the deadly COVID-19 outbreak in October at a northern New Brunswick nursing home.
Bérubé learned on Oct. 16 that her 88-year-old mother had been infected at Villa Renaissance in Dalhousie.
Savage was the nurse on the provincial rapid outbreak management team who broke the news to her a short time later that her mother's condition was deteriorating.
"She informed me that there was already crackling in Mom's left anterior lung," Bérubé said.
"Sadly, her symptoms … evolved very quickly," recalled Savage, who had come from Tracadie to help deal with the outbreak.
Ann Bérubé's nose, ears and lips were turning blue and she was having "much more difficulty breathing," Savage said.
The family agreed she could be given medication to prevent her from suffering.
The home organized a video call between Ann and her six children.
"I found it very heartwarming and so did my family," Réa said.
Visits being prohibited, they hadn't seen each other in person for almost two months, since Ann's birthday in late August.
The children told their mother they loved her and said their goodbyes.
Then, despite a wind and rainstorm, Réa went to her mother's window to see her one last time.
"It was a moment that I will never forget in my life," Savage said.
This story was originally published on May 28, 2024.
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