Healthcare Heroes Fund

Last year, a group of volunteers and local businesses banded together to launch the Healthcare Heroes Fund. Today we're looking back on our journey. Catch the story here: mailchi.mp/d5daf317e3c7/a…

Yassin Dabeh, a nineteen-year-old long-term care home cleaner in Delaware, Ontario, lost his life after being diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier this year. Mr. Fakih – born in Lebanon and currently resides in Toronto – held an event to distribute 500 meals in his honour.

HHF is spotlighting CEOs of @pfizer, @moderna_tx, and @JNJCares for their work on #COVID-19 vaccines “They made a conscientious business decision to go and begin development of a vaccine to stop the spread of this bug,” - @TheFranklin Chairman D. Morel healthcareheroesfund.ca/healthhero

As of Thursday, Ontario made a significant step in its vaccination rollout, with 90% of Ontarians aged 12 and above receiving at least one dose of a #COVID-19 vaccine. #cdnhealth Read more: bit.ly/3lFlIKd

HHF is spotlighting Joseph Buddy Amodia Jr., a Saskatchewan chef, recently awarded by the Filipino Ethnic Community of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification for his dedication to helping others during COVID-19. Nominate a hero: bit.ly/3CmiUqW

@OntariosDoctors (OMA) released a 5-point plan for a better healthcare system that would address a backlog of about 20 million in healthcare services, including doctors’ visits, diagnostic tests, treatments, and surgeries due to #COVID-19. Read more: bit.ly/3FhOZlF

Roche: Data shows Ronapreve reduces viral load within seven days in #COVID-19 hospitalized patients who did not need supplemental oxygen. Read more: ow.ly/i4Yo50Go5FJ

Sam Laguerra, a 44-year-old residence administrative assistant. Sam worked at the Providence Saint-Joseph CHSLD when he tested positive for COVID-19, as cases multiplied in the long-term care home. Sam passed away on May 2, 2020. Honour a loved one: ow.ly/d9S650Go5E9

Last week, the Healthcare Heroes Fund spotlighted Dr. David Baltimore, an American biologist who received a Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1975. His research helped determine that RNA-based viruses could copy their genetic material into DNA. Nominate a hero: ow.ly/5qdD50Go5AZ

@UniforTheUnion, Canada’s largest private-sector union, urged ON Premier Doug Ford to enact legislation imposing a ban on anti-vaccine protests around the vicinity of schools, hospitals, daycares, and #COVID-19 testing & immunization clinics. Read more: ow.ly/p6eH50Go5tQ

European Union countries that allow administration of #COVID-19 vaccine boosters may face increased legal risks because the third dose has not yet received approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Read more: ow.ly/Yvu950G1CzH

Laurence Ménard, a 33-year-old social service worker was one of the first healthcare heroes to lose their battle to COVID-19. Laurence passed away on May 4, 2020. Laurence continues to be missed by her son, parents, sister & husband. Honour a loved one: healthcareheroesfund.ca/honour-a-hero

This week, HHF spotlights Cynthia Rennie-Faubert, an emergency room nurse at Cornwall Community Hospital who jumped into action to respond to 129 quarantined Canadians who came from the Diamond Princess, a #COVID-19 infected cruise ship. Nominate a hero: ow.ly/vJqc50G1CFh

The speed at which #COVID-19 infection rates increase is slowing down, which is a good sign, said Dionne Aleman of the @UofT. According to the Star, Ontario's reproduction number, measured weekly, has decreased from 1.44 to 1.25. Read more: ow.ly/SO9Y50G0TyM

Brenda Crowell, an Alberta woman who suffered from a blood clot caused by #COVID-19, credited the Indigo Lightning CATI2, a new medical device, for removing a pulmonary embolism from her lungs and saving her life. Read more: ow.ly/Z9Cq50FWkKp

Marcelin Francois, a 40-year-old PSW, was a healthcare hero that lost their battle to COVID-19. Unable to recover from severe symptoms, Marcelin passed away on April 14. Marcelin is missed dearly by his wife and children. Honour a loved one: ow.ly/p76h50FWktH

This week, the Healthcare Heroes Fund spotlights Dr. Kirby White, an Australian General Practitioner who developed #PPE that could be laundered and re-used, allowing frontline workers to keep seeing patients during the #COVID-19 pandemic. Nominate a hero: ow.ly/Irn750FWkgV

ON stays in step 3 of its reopening plan for an undisclosed amount of time due to a difficult fall and winter ahead. Health officers are monitoring the data to determine when it is safe to lift the remaining public health measures. #COVID-19 Read more: ow.ly/8cnH50FWgp7

The Federal Government announced it will donate up to 10 million doses of the Janssen vaccine internationally through the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility #COVAX. Read more: ow.ly/I9ZG50FRW6F

Cristina Marasigan, a 49-year-old personal support worker (PSW), was a healthcare hero that lost her battle to COVID-19 on February 23, 2021. Cristina was a full-time PSW in Bradford, Ontario, and the community continues to miss her. Honour a loved one: healthcareheroesfund.ca/honour-a-hero

Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa is a 27-year-old psychiatry resident who battled systemic racism in healthcare & the first black woman to be selected as sole valedictorian for the University of Toronto's faculty of medicine in 2020. Nominate a hero: healthcareheroesfund.ca/healthhero