Dr. Sharon Ryan
Sharon’s mother was in the first wave of seniors/palliative care patients to be residing inside a palliative care ward in Covid-19 (March 2020) with no visitation rights. Isolated, confused, and alone, Louise’s emotional health began to quickly deteriorate. In a race against time, Sharon began a frantic fight with the government to win back visitation rights for palliative care patients. After weeks of protesting, media exposure, and countless letters to MPs, MLAs, a premier and a pope, Sharon finally won back the rights of palliative care patients to have their family/friends visit them again. Miraculously, Louise (Sharon’s mother) lived a month longer than expected and Sharon got to be by her side. This is their story.This book reflects upon the ethical decision of the government to strip seniors and dying patients of their right to have family/friends by their side in the final stages of their lives forcing many of them to die isolated and alone. May this terrible lapse in judgment by governmental leaders never happen again.
