Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Miracle Man

Edwin Ng is a husband, father, grandfather, and PSW. He is also a miracle man

By Ruth Ann Ferguson, Representative

Edwin has been employed at Roberta Place, a long term care facility in Barrie, for 19 years. Many have heard of Roberta Place because this facility was the first in the country to have a COVID-19 outbreak of the alpha variant (B.1.1.7.), which originated in the UK. Over 230 people became infected, including 53 staff members, and 71 residents lost their lives.

Edwin started feeling unwell after receiving his fist vaccine. Thinking that perhaps it was just some of the side effects, he pushed through the symptoms at home. But his wife, Samantha, knew it was serious. When Edwin’s condition worsened in mid-January, she called an ambulance.

Edwin’s last memory of home was walking with paramedics to the ambulance. A few weeks after being admitted to the hospital in Barrie, he was transferred to Toronto General. He experienced ups and downs in his condition, and weeks soon turned into months.

Edwin was on a ventilator (ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine), which is also known as an artificial lung. During this time, his lungs were filling with blood clots, his kidneys were failing, and at one point the family was called in to say goodbye.

Edwin had other plans though. He says that during one of the lowest points he had a vison in his unconscious state. He was asked to go with Jesus but said no; it was too early.

Samantha recalls that when talking about timelines, it was after that period in mid-April that Edwin started to improve so much that doctors were able to put him on the transplant list. He received a double lung transplant. A surgery that usually takes 14 hours or more was completed in just 7 hours.

Since that day, Edwin has not looked back. He has passed targets and goals that usually take weeks or months in mere days. He has surpassed all expectations. One doctor said, “I’ve never seen a guy dodge so many bullets.”

On June 2, 2021, Edwin the miracle man came home. There was a parade in his honour, and he was overwhelmed and humbled at the outpouring of support. Crowds of people lined the streets outside his home and cheered.

Edwin and his family are astounded at the support from his coworkers. Sanja Goldie, a nurse at Roberta Place, started a Go Fund Me account that has raised over $45,000 dollars. Over 700 people donated to support Edwin, including coworkers, people who know the Ng family, and even complete strangers. Support has come from the community and from around the world. Emails, cards, and letters have come pouring in—some from as far away at the Middle East. Family members of the residents he cared for over the years have reached out.

Edwin is shocked that people recognize him when he goes out in the community. They stop and wish him well. He is thankful but is in amazement that it all happened. He admits that there is some sense of loss with not going to work every day, and he misses his residents and fellow members. Many coworkers still stop by and visit, and that helps.

Edwin is home with a long road ahead but he is doing well. He is starting to gain back some weight, which he says is because of his wife’s great cooking. While he is so very thankful for the great care that he received in hospitals and the rehab centre, the food, well, he says nothing compares to home cooking!

Edwin starts his morning in prayer and fills his day at home doing physiotherapy and chores around the house. Samantha says that she must remind him to slow down some days. In June, the couple celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary.

Edwin is looking forward to getting his drivers license reinstated. When asked where he will go when that happens, he smiles and says, “I will drive my kids to school.”

That may not seem like a miracle to many, but for Edwin and his family, it is.

Miracle Man

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