Image Credit: RIH Foundation

By James Peters

RIH Foundation

VIDEO: Merritt family’s harrowing COVID-19 experience highlighted in RIH Foundation fundraising kickoff

Dec 1, 2020 | 2:37 PM

KAMLOOPS — In a normal year, the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation would be kicking off its Holiday Fundraising Campaign today with an in-person event.

With pandemic protocols preventing that type of gathering, the Foundation is launching an online fundraising push by highlighting the harrowing COVID-19 journey for a Merritt family.

Frank Garcia was checked into RIH in March after a suspected case of pneumonia turned out to be COVID-19.

Frank Garcia (Image Credit: RIH Foundation)

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Garcia spent 42 days in a coma in intensive care, followed by 25 days in hospital undergoing physiotherapy to get his strength and coordination back.

The stress of this time has been identified as a potential trigger for Garcia’s daughter Marcy to go into labour a full two months before her due date.

The family credits the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at RIH for saving the life of her newborn son Chase.

Both Garcias credit the team at RIH for guiding them through their medical turmoil.

WATCH: (Video Credit: RIH Foundation)