A fundraiser has been launched for an Abbotsford mother who tested positive for COVID-19 and is on life support after her baby was delivered through an emergency c-section.
Corina Rochon, a close family friend of the baby's father, Dave McIntosh, organized a GoFundMe campaign entitled "Please Help this Family." In only a matter of days, the campaign surpassed its $50,000 goal.
At the time of this writing, the fundraiser has raised a total of $61,862 from approximately 1,200 donors.
Gillian McIntosh, the mother, was diagnosed with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Nov. 6 and admitted to hospital a few days later due to difficulty breathing. By Nov. 10, her condition deteriorated and she required a ventilator to breathe.
Needed to get the baby out
"To complicate the situation, Gill was two days shy of 36 weeks pregnant and the doctors knew they had to get the baby out before it was too late," explains Rochon in the GoFundMe.
On Nov. 10, doctors delivered the baby by emergency c-section; he was healthy and tested negative for COVID-19. However, his father had to quarantine at home while awaiting his own COVID-19 test results, which were negative.
"Gill remains in critical condition while her husband prepares to be a single father of a toddler and newborn until Gill is well enough to come home," writes Rochon. "Please help this couple who waited for the surprise of a baby girl or baby boy... this couple who has yet to name their child... this mom who doesn't even know yet her beautiful baby boy is alive and doing well.
"There is so much unknown right now and we are hoping to help relieve some of the financial stress through a successful campaign. Funds raised will help prepare for the expenses associated with having a new baby (diapers, formula) and pay the bills (mortgage, hydro, etc.) while Gill recovers and Dave is home from work.
"We know that Gill has a big fight ahead of her and then a long road of recovery; we are trying to prepare for her long term needs."
Find out more information about the fundraiser here.
