Why Kin Canada is Special to Me
by Ashley Ford
The last few years have been challenging for Kin Canada Clubs coast to coast as well as our families due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have not only had to adapt our clubs to many changes but, we ourselves have had to take on many changes and sacrifices as well some of which changed our lives forever. I am not one to talk about my feelings, however, I would like share my personal story on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected me and why Kin Canada holds a special place in my heart.
I had been living and looking after my grandfather for the last 12 years. On May 5, 2021, something felt off when I got home from work. My grandfather wasn’t his normal go lucky self. He told me that he was cold and couldn’t get warm and that he wasn’t hungry and had many aches and pains. He said these aches and pains were not typical pains that he would have they were different. That evening I rushed him to the hospital hoping that they could do something to help him with the pain. After they got him settled in the emergency room I was asked to leave and go to the waiting room. I waited for two and a half hours before the Dr. came out and gave me an update. The update was that he had pneumonia and that they would be keeping him in the hospital until they got it cleared up and that he would be in isolation until his COVID-19 test came back which would take approximately one to two days to come back. I then went home and went to bed.
The next day at approximately 4:45pm, I received a phone call from the hospital informing me that my grandfather had tested positive for COVID-19 and that I had to get tested and self-isolate for 14 days. My heart immediately sank I didn’t know what to say or do. The only thing that I could think of is how bad that I would feel if I was the one that gave him COVID-19. Upon receiving this information, I immediately got myself booked in for a COVID-19 test. On Saturday May 8, 2021, I received my COVID-19 test result. It was negative. After I received my results, I was quite relieved.
On Sunday, May 9th, I received a call from the hospital informing me that my grandfather’s condition was deteriorating and that they had to transfer him to a hospital that was better equipped to look after COVID-19 patients. As the enduring power of attorney, I gave them the permission to have him moved. Before they moved him, the Dr. and Nurses allowed me to talk to him on the phone. This was the most heartbreaking conversation that I have ever had with him on the phone. He told me that he loved me and that he appreciated all that I have done for him and it’s too bad I won’t get to see you again. He then said I love you. I quite often seen my grandfather at his worst but something in my heart knew that it would be the last time I would get to talk to him.
On the evening of Sunday, May 9, 2021, I couldn’t sleep at all, my stomach was in knots, I couldn’t sleep and something didn’t feel right. The next day I received a phone call from the hospital requesting that the family come up to say their goodbyes. I was in self isolation so they needed to get me special permission from Alberta Health to be able to say goodbye. Right before they got the approval for me to get out of isolation and say my goodbyes I got another phone call within minutes of the first one and the Dr. crying saying that she hates making these phone calls however, I have to inform you that your grandfather has passed away.
After that phone call my heart shattered in pieces, I didn’t know what to do. Due to the self-isolation, I was on I couldn’t even go anywhere or be around my family which added to the pain more. I am not one to ask for help but, I reached out and let my Kin Family know that I had lost a close family member due to COVID-19. Believe it or not they came through for me at a time when I needed them the most. I didn’t have to worry about cooking meals, or being lonely because I would get phone calls every day. The most touching thing that I received though was bouquet of flowers from my home club that said, “Sorry for the loss of your grandfather, love, your Sisters in Kin.” After I read that, I broke down and had a good cry which was something that I needed to help me with closing one chapter of my life and opening another.
With that being said, I am extremely proud to be part of Kin Canada and forever grateful for all the help and thoughts that were offered to me during one of the most difficult times in my life from Kin Canada members coast to coast. It shows that we are all family no matter where we are in the country. That is why Kin Canada will forever hold a special place in my heart. YIK [Yours in Kin]
by Ashley Ford
The last few years have been challenging for Kin Canada Clubs coast to coast as well as our families due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have not only had to adapt our clubs to many changes but, we ourselves have had to take on many changes and sacrifices as well some of which changed our lives forever. I am not one to talk about my feelings, however, I would like share my personal story on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected me and why Kin Canada holds a special place in my heart.
I had been living and looking after my grandfather for the last 12 years. On May 5, 2021, something felt off when I got home from work. My grandfather wasn’t his normal go lucky self. He told me that he was cold and couldn’t get warm and that he wasn’t hungry and had many aches and pains. He said these aches and pains were not typical pains that he would have they were different. That evening I rushed him to the hospital hoping that they could do something to help him with the pain. After they got him settled in the emergency room I was asked to leave and go to the waiting room. I waited for two and a half hours before the Dr. came out and gave me an update. The update was that he had pneumonia and that they would be keeping him in the hospital until they got it cleared up and that he would be in isolation until his COVID-19 test came back which would take approximately one to two days to come back. I then went home and went to bed.
The next day at approximately 4:45pm, I received a phone call from the hospital informing me that my grandfather had tested positive for COVID-19 and that I had to get tested and self-isolate for 14 days. My heart immediately sank I didn’t know what to say or do. The only thing that I could think of is how bad that I would feel if I was the one that gave him COVID-19. Upon receiving this information, I immediately got myself booked in for a COVID-19 test. On Saturday May 8, 2021, I received my COVID-19 test result. It was negative. After I received my results, I was quite relieved.
On Sunday, May 9th, I received a call from the hospital informing me that my grandfather’s condition was deteriorating and that they had to transfer him to a hospital that was better equipped to look after COVID-19 patients. As the enduring power of attorney, I gave them the permission to have him moved. Before they moved him, the Dr. and Nurses allowed me to talk to him on the phone. This was the most heartbreaking conversation that I have ever had with him on the phone. He told me that he loved me and that he appreciated all that I have done for him and it’s too bad I won’t get to see you again. He then said I love you. I quite often seen my grandfather at his worst but something in my heart knew that it would be the last time I would get to talk to him.
On the evening of Sunday, May 9, 2021, I couldn’t sleep at all, my stomach was in knots, I couldn’t sleep and something didn’t feel right. The next day I received a phone call from the hospital requesting that the family come up to say their goodbyes. I was in self isolation so they needed to get me special permission from Alberta Health to be able to say goodbye. Right before they got the approval for me to get out of isolation and say my goodbyes I got another phone call within minutes of the first one and the Dr. crying saying that she hates making these phone calls however, I have to inform you that your grandfather has passed away.
After that phone call my heart shattered in pieces, I didn’t know what to do. Due to the self-isolation, I was on I couldn’t even go anywhere or be around my family which added to the pain more. I am not one to ask for help but, I reached out and let my Kin Family know that I had lost a close family member due to COVID-19. Believe it or not they came through for me at a time when I needed them the most. I didn’t have to worry about cooking meals, or being lonely because I would get phone calls every day. The most touching thing that I received though was bouquet of flowers from my home club that said, “Sorry for the loss of your grandfather, love, your Sisters in Kin.” After I read that, I broke down and had a good cry which was something that I needed to help me with closing one chapter of my life and opening another.
With that being said, I am extremely proud to be part of Kin Canada and forever grateful for all the help and thoughts that were offered to me during one of the most difficult times in my life from Kin Canada members coast to coast. It shows that we are all family no matter where we are in the country. That is why Kin Canada will forever hold a special place in my heart. YIK [Yours in Kin]
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