J’can healthcare worker dies from COVID-19-related complications

Antoniette Bryden has fond memories of her mother, Arlene Reid, 51, a healthcare worker originally from Yallahs, St Thomas, who died of COVID-19 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, on April 27.

Reid, a personal support worker (PSW) who worked part-time in the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) in Peel Region for nearly three years, passed away one week after being diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

She died at the home of one of her daughters.

"She loved lobster, so every Mother's Day we took her downtown, got her lobster, took her to Dutch Dreams for her grapenut ice cream. Every Mother's Day she had to do that no matter what - same thing, every Mother's Day she wanted that," said Bryden. "We miss our mom a lot. It's hard to accept that we're never going to be able to see her again, especially the boys, to listen to her stories from work; her smile was amazing. And she loved cooking, so a lot of Jamaican dishes that we got, we won't be getting them as much any more."

In addition to Bryden, Reid had four other children, daughters Adriana, Shay-Ann and Antonnelle, and son Trey; she had three grandsons.

In March, Reid visited her siblings in Jamaica and when she returned to Canada, chose to spend 16 days in self-isolation instead of the required 14 days.

Bryden said her mother came out of isolation fine and there were "no symptoms, no fever, nothing like that - it was when she went back to work".

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Meanwhile, the VON said it was saddened by "the loss of one of our healthcare heroes".

"In speaking with her family and co-workers, I have been touched to hear about how much she loved her clients, and how much her clients loved her," said Jo-Anne Poirier, VON president and CEO.

Services Employees International Union Healthcare (SEIU), of which Reid was a member, said that she is the second member to die from COVID-19.

SEIU Healthcare President Sharleen Stewart said that like many healthcare workers, Reid was a dedicated PSW who served her community through multiple employers and facilities in the Peel Region.

"Our union has spoken to the family to offer whatever support is needed as they grieve the sudden loss of precious life. She will be missed and remembered," said Stewart.

Bryden said that the funeral is scheduled for May 22 and will be a closed-casket affair. COVID restrictions will also limit their farewell.

She said that the family will only be able to pick up her mom's body from the funeral home and go straight to the graveside.

"We will have a really short service and the pastor will say what he has to say, and then that's it. We don't get to see her or anything like that," said Bryden.

Since Reid's passing, another personal support worker, Sharon Roberts, 59, died of COVID-19. She worked at the Downsview Long-Term Care facility in Toronto for more than two decades.

In mid-April, Christine Mandegarian, 54, a personal support worker for 31 years at Altamont Care Community in Scarborough also died of the virus.

From January 15 to May 4, Ontario has had 18,310 cases, with 12, 779 resolved, and 1,361 deaths.