A COVID-19 birthday story
Tuesday 19 May 2020: Sixty-eight year old Mark (not his real name), did not have a cold and was not feeling sick but one day he suddenly found it difficult to breathe.
“I was very short of breath. If I took six steps I had to stop to catch my breath,” he says. “My wife wasn’t having me waiting. She said I might be having a heart attack and that I had to go to the hospital.”
Mark was not keen on the idea, but after his wife called the Health Department and they said he needed to get to the Emergency Department right away, he complied.
“I was very weak so they admitted me to the intensive care unit and that’s where I was introduced to the CPAP mask,” he recalls. “It is placed over your nose and mouth and pumps oxygen in at a furious rate. I had never experienced anything like that before. It was scary.
It was so hard for me to breathe. Using the CPAP didn’t hurt me at all. I wasn’t in any pain, but I was scared. If it hadn’t been for the nurses consoling me and calming me down, I may have had to go on a ventilator. And I kept telling them I didn’t want to be on a ventilator,” he says.
Mark says he had not wanted to use the CPAP machine either, but when the ICU doctors and nurses explained that his body was not getting sufficient oxygen, he regarded the CPAP as “the lesser of two evils”.
“Apparently the ventilator is a lot worse,” he says.
So he made an honest effort with the CPAP but doubts he would have made it all the way without the nurses.
“They were wonderful; they were there for me encouraging me every breath of the way. The biggest surprise I had when I was admitted, was to find out that some of the nurses in ICU are praying nurses. They actually prayed with me and over me. That really lifted my spirits and gave me the courage to continue with my CPAP mask. I give all the praise to the nurses there!
While his memory is cloudy, Mark says he had to use the mask for about three days.
“I guess after I came off the CPAP mask everything has been recovery. I haven’t experienced any pain or anything like that.”
However, he was weak and his condition serious enough that he remained in the ICU for 4 weeks. Eager to get better, he says the support and comfort afforded to him by the ICU physicians and nurses renewed his faith and fed his soul.
![Elaine Campbell, MD ICU physician](https://bermudahospitals.bm/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Elaine-Campbell-1-crop-300x297.jpg)
BHB ICU physician Elaine Campbell, MD, was part of Mark’s care team.
On Tuesday 5 May he was discharged from ICU to a general ward. It was a great way to celebrate his 69th birthday and hospital staff were happy too.
“My phone blew up that day with calls from family and friends. I was so glad to be out of ICU and on a general ward that I couldn’t think straight. The hospital kitchen baked me a small cake and the nurses sang happy birthday.”
Although he was happy to move to his new room, he is now looking forward to returning home.
“I thank God for his mercy, his grace and his deliverance from this terrible virus,” he says.
“I feel like I am ready to go home. I don’t feel sick. I don’t think I’m displaying any symptoms or anything like that,” he says. “They want to wean me off the oxygen. I don’t have an expected discharge date yet, but I am talking to you freestyle (i.e. without needing to take a break or use supplemental oxygen), so I am ready to go home.
“If I look out the window, I can see the hill where I stay. I can see the neighbourhood. I am almost home.”
Archives
- 18 August - Baby Sarai born in the eye of Ernesto
- 29 July - BHB awards $190,000 in scholarships
- 18 July - No through traffic at KEMH on 20 July
- 20 June - No through traffic at KEMH on 21 June
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- 30 May - BHB MRI service up and running
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- 12 March - BHB celebrates World Kidney Day
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- 3 January - Bermuda’s first baby of 2024 is born
- 25 December - Two babies born on Christmas Day
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- 22 December - BHB jobs fair attracts over 300
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- 5 December - BHB updates COVID guidelines
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- 3 November - Local newborn makes BHB history
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- 27 September - BHB welcomes new chief hospital information officer
- 23 September - KEMH welcomes baby during hurricane force winds
- 20 September - BHB’s electronic medical record to go live in October
- 20 September - BHB Public Advisory: the hyperbaric chamber has reopened
- 6 September - BHB awards $100,000 in scholarships to eight students
- 9 August - Donate blood and win a ride on a Whip
- 24 July - BHB laundry gets $6.6 million upgrade
- 3 February - BHB CT scan service has resumed
- 27 January - BHB and Brown Darrell collaborate on CT service
- 9 December - BHB COVID-19 Remembrance Tree
- 30 November - BHB turns on green light for mental health awareness
- 2 November - BHB to ease visiting restrictions starting Wednesday
- 22 October - BHB moves to Disaster Alert Level 3
- 18 October - Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre resumes normal hours
- 28 September - BHB morgue service impacted by the pandemic
- 17 September - BHB Moves to Highest Alert Level
- 7 September - BHB visitor restrictions reintroduced due to delta surge
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- 22 July - BHB cautiously opens up to more visitors
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- 9 July - Blood donor winners announced
- 13 May - BHB releases BE KIND logo
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- 24 February - BHB Food Services team completes nutrition course
- 2 February - UCC returns to longer weekday hours
- 1 February - Preston Swan takes on acting COO role
- 26 January - More visitors allowed from 27 January
- 18 January - Mental Health Act Code of Practice now available
- 18 January - Bermuda Hospitals Board COVID-19 vaccination update
- 15 January - BHB pilots thermal detectors at its entrances
- 8 January - Why I will be getting the COVID-19 vaccine
- 6 January - New year’s baby makes a late appearance
- 29 December - Update on BHB Long Term Care COVID-19 Cases
- 24 December - BHB Confirms Two Patient Cases in Long Term Care Area
- 23 December - Call for new blood donors to help over the holidays
- 17 December - Dr Wesley Miller appointed as BHB chief of staff
- 14 December - Lamb Foggo UCC Winter Weekday Hours
- 13 December - BHB gives mental health the green light
- 27 November - BHB response to 27 November Royal Gazette article
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- 5 August - Agape House maintenance In August
- 24 July - Road closure at KEMH on 27 July
- 21 July - Dr Michael Richmond appointed as BHB CEO
- 2 June - BHB moves to limited visitation
- 19 May - A COVID-19 birthday story
- 29 April - Please wear a mask to the hospital
- 15 April - Police, Fire and Regiment salute KEMH staff
- 13 April - KEMH creates more isolation rooms
- 8 April - Ace Barber Unit converted for pandemic
- 20 March - Only essential visiting now allowed at BHB
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- 31 January - Winter hours at Lamb Foggo UCC extended to February
- 6 January - BHB seeks students for 2020 summer programme
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- 2 December - BHB awarded top level of accreditation
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- 10 September - 2019 Scholarship Winners Announced
- 4 September - BHB CEO Notifies of Early Retirement in 2020
- 14 August - Improved diabetes management for inpatients
- 16 April - BHB celebrates occupational health nurses
- 25 March - BHB implements hand hygiene audit
- 11 March - Public Advisory: KEMH through road closure
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- 5 February - Red Cross Donates Scooter to Gordon Ward Residents
- 22 January - BHB Public Advisory on the Flu
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- 23 October - Walk-in Mammography Day on Thursday
- 12 September - Bermuda Hospitals Board offers free hands-only CPR training
- 26 February - Bermuda Hospitals Board now offers Cardiac CT Scanning
- 14 February - A Valentine’s gift for regular blood donors
- 25 December - Bermuda Hospitals Board welcomes Christmas baby 2017
- 24 November - Public Advisory: Lamb Foggo UCC closed this weekend
- 18 October - KEMH Mammography Department puts breast health first
- 16 October - Bermuda Hospitals Board Traffic Advisory
- 19 September - Bermuda Hospitals Board launches island-wide asthma campaign
- 14 September - Bermuda Hospitals Board has two certified dementia trainers
- 14 September - Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre closed this weekend
- 23 March - CEO Venetta Symonds on bed capacity at KEMH
- 17 March - Corporate Blood Drive competition heats up
- 22 February - Lamb Foggo UCC to reopen 1 March
- 1 February - Ms Patrice Dill leaves BHB
- 24 January - BHB introduces Patient-Centred Medical Home
- 20 January - Community invited to open up about BHB services
- 2 January - BHB welcomes New Year’s baby
- 26 December - BHB welcomes Christmas baby
- 22 December - Notice: Holiday hours at UCC and Emergency Department
- 3 December - King’s College urologist joins BHB
- 6 November - BHB focuses on ethics and youth
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- 7 September - BHB Update on the Lamb Foggo Urgent Care Centre
- 1 September - Outpatient clinics at KEMH have moved
- 5 August - New hours at Craig Appin House reception
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- 21 July - BHB Releases CEO Salary Data
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- 3 February - BHB Rehabilitation Day Hospital temporarily moved
- 3 February - MRI service at BHB has resumed
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- 12 January - Kiwanis Clubs Donate $21,000 To Maternity
- 6 January - MRI service interruption
- 5 January - BHB to demolish two buildings on KEMH campus
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- 15 July - Chance to win a tour of the new wing
- 4 July - Consultant Geriatrician Appointed
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- 21 April - Acute Care Wing: – new features on the face
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- 10 April - The New Emergency Department
- 13 February - BHB introduces Eddie the Elephant
- 30 January - Road Works on Point Finger Road this weekend
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- 16 January - Craneiom comes down
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- 29 November - Urgent Care Centre Hours Confirmed
- 28 November - Dr Sam Mir Appointed Director of Cardiology
- 14 November - Chairman, CEO speak at Sandys Rotary
- 1 November - BHB Goes Back to Ethics Basics
- 31 October - Quarterly BHB Update – October 2013
- 15 October - New Acute Care Wing Construction Update
- 10 September - CEO and Chairman Speak at Hamilton Rotary
- 6 September - Planned Power Outage at MWI this Weekend
- 26 August - New temporary pedestrian entrance to KEMH
- 24 July - BHB Board Update – 24 July 2013
- 30 April - New Chief of Staff Appointed
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- 19 September - BHB´s 2011 Annual Report Released
- 7 August - Chief of Human Resources Appointed
- 16 February - BHB Sees Patient Satisfaction with Services Rise
- 16 February - New CT Scanner Provides Faster and More Accurate Results
- 10 February - Road Works Planned for South Shore
- 31 January - Hospital Marks Healthy Heart Month
- 22 November - Bermuda Hospitals Board Achieves Full Accreditation
- 7 November - Hospital Celebrates Advances in Diagnostic Imaging
- 27 October - Ethics Week 2011 Offers Food For Thought
- 12 August - Venetta Symonds To Be BHB CEO from 7 April 2012
- 6 April - Construction Begins
- 23 November - MindFrame PhotoVoice Exhibition Winners Announced
- 28 October - MWI Host Mental Health Forum for Community
- 28 October - Ethics Week Keeps it Confidential
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- 10 September - BHB evaluates three bids
- 4 June - Parking Lot Takes Shape
- 4 May - KEMH Hosts Asthma Day Open House
- 26 March - Site preparation work begins
- 18 March - New Online Applications Process for BHB Jobs
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- 14 October - Specifications Take Shape
- 10 September - New Director of Facilities Appointed
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- 25 August - Hospital Appoints Psychiatrists at MWI
- 29 July - Advisory Teams Evaluate KEMH Site
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- 30 April - KEMH Hosts World Asthma Day Fair
- 16 March - Redevelopment Update
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- 12 November - Johns Hopkins Phase II Report Released
- 20 October - Hospital Launches Infection Prevention Week
- 16 October - Mind Frame Art Exhibit Opens at City Hall
- 14 October - BHB Invests to Strengthen Nursing
- 29 July - Mother Support: Going for the Gold
- 27 March - Hospital Improves Laundry Service
- 23 January - Hospital Switchboard Undergoes 2-Hour Upgrade
- 20 December - New Director of Human Resources Appointed
- 27 November - Opening the Doors to Wound Care
- 11 October - Mind Frame Art Exhibit Opens at City Hall
- 6 September - Emergency Department Staff Receive Specialized Training
- 21 August - Dr Donald Thomas Appointed as Chief of Staff
- 15 February - Single Largest Donor Funds Improvements at Hospitals
- 1 February - Have You the Heart to Find Out Your Risk?
- 22 November - Day Hospital Provides Rehabilitative Services
- 17 October - Bermuda Hospitals Board Update on Estate Master Plan
- 16 October - Infection Control Week – It’s In Your Hands
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- 21 September - Bermuda Hospitals Board Changes First Public Meeting Venue
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- 7 September - Community Open Houses to be Held at KEMH
- 10 July - BHB and BPSU Reach Three Year Agreement
- 21 February - Bermuda Hospitals Board Appoints Acting CEO
- 30 December - BHB Chairman Steps Down
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- 6 September - Bermuda Hospitals Board Awarded Three-Year Accreditation
- 30 August - BHB Chairman Addresses Hamilton Rotary Club
- 7 April - Hospitals Launch New Web Site
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- 6 October - CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH
- 6 October - CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION
- 5 October - Bermuda’s Mental Health Awareness Week
- 4 October - STIGMA AND MENTAL HEALTH