Ninety-year-old Gemstone resident Ida D'Amore had COVID-19 during the outbreak (Image Credit: Frank D'Amore)

By Chad Klassen

GEMSTONE OUTBREAK

‘We got very lucky’: Kamloops family recalls mom’s COVID-19 experience at Gemstone

Feb 5, 2021 | 4:25 PM

KAMLOOPS — Frank D’Amore worries about his mom every day. Ninety-year-old Ida D’Amore was one of 25 Gemstone residents and staff to contract COVID-19 last month.

“It was a difficult experience because first of all, you’re not sure she’s going to pull through or not,” said Frank.

While she had the virus, Frank and his sister Mirella were able to go in and care for their mom — his first visit since March. He was full of anxiety.

“You don’t know if your mom’s going to make it. She’s not lucid. She’s mostly sleeping. Then secondary, you’re putting yourself in a position where everybody around you has COVID,” he said. “You didn’t sleep very much the night before, not knowing if you were going to get it.”

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Thankfully, Ida is now healthy. However, two other residents at Gemstone were not as lucky. Interior Health says as of Friday, there are three active cases.

“We got very lucky. We count our blessings,” noted Frank. “Absolutely awful. Some of the people that did pass, one of the gentleman was a guy I worked with. It’s very sad. At the end of your time here on Earth, I don’t think you want to spend it in bed sick with something like COVID.”

While Ida has already experienced COVID-19, her son isn’t letting his guard down. Ida hasn’t been vaccinated, having the virus while vaccinations were being done in mid-January. He doesn’t know if his mom is now safe or whether she can get the virus a second time.

“At the end of the day, we don’t know how this virus completely works. I know that now her anti-bodies are going to be stronger than what they were during the first go-around. It’s terrifying that you have a lady who’s 91 here in a month and you can’t spend any time with her.”

As of Friday (Feb. 5), Interior Health says there have been 17 residents who tested positive, 8 staff members, and two deaths connected to the outbreak.