The Haldimand Press
CALEDONIA—Almost a year after COVID-19 disrupted our lives, Keith Virag was hospitalized by a more unexpected illness – a staphylococcus aureus infection.
Keith and his wife, Angela, and their two children, have lived in Caledonia for three years. Keith is a surveillance supervisor at Casino Brantford and Angela is studying Practical Nursing full-time at Mohawk College with plans to graduate this August. The Virags appreciate the small-town feeling of Caledonia, especially now as the community has rallied to support the family.
Angela explains that her husband was coping with a back injury late in February with no improvement after ice and heat treatments and Advil. The discomfort was compounded as Keith developed symptoms inconsistent with a back injury. She says, “He began to experience chills, sweats, decreased appetite, decrease in urination even with drinking copious amounts of water, and insomnia.”
After several days of little to no sleep, Angela took Keith to the emergency department at Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton on March 1. Blood work, an x-ray, and CT scan confirmed the staph infection; Keith was admitted and started on IV antibiotics. Further testing revealed the infection was in the blood stream, lungs, and heart with a three-centimetre mass of infection on the right ventricle. Kidney function was also being affected.
Keith was transferred to Hamilton General Hospital where open heart surgery occurred on March 8 to remove the mass from his heart. The surgery went well but the kidneys did not improve, resulting in the insertion of a temporary port for dialysis. Since the surgery Angela says Keith is feeling “okay” but adds, “He is in a lot of pain. He is relieved that the surgery went well but is now worried about his kidney function as well as wanting to make sure that the antibiotics are working against the staph infection.”
That concern is understandable as Keith is not able to go home until the staph is no longer in his blood stream. The IV antibiotics will continue for at least three months with a home care nurse assisting with treatment. It will take six to eight weeks to recover from the heart surgery as the breast bone heals. Angela says, “He will also have to change his diet and maintain a regular exercise routine for his heart. His return to work is unknown at the time.”
It was that uncertainty that prompted Lisa Martin and Diane Betts to start a GoFundMe campaign for the Virag family. Martin says, “We knew when we heard what was going on with Keith that we had to help in some way.” She has worked with Keith for several years and their families are close. Betts has also experienced the Virag’s generosity of friendship; following the birth of her son last August Keith and Angela sent a fruit arrangement for their arrival home with their son. Martin says, “Keith is just that type of friend.”
She continues, “We knew that with Keith going in for open heart surgery, and with his staph infection throughout so much of his body, that he would be out of work for awhile. With Angela not working and in full-time nursing school, and two young children to raise, they are going to need some back up. Who better to ask than all the people they have no doubt helped in one way, shape, or form throughout their lifetime?”
Support for the Virags is coming at a critical time as Angela says, “To be honest, I am not sure how I am coping with this. I feel like I am on autopilot. I have moments that I break down and cry because I love my husband and I want him to be okay and I want him to come home. This has been one of the most difficult situations that I have ever been through. It has been a struggle for me to maintain school, support my husband, as well as try to maintain some sense of normal for our children.”
Despite that feeling, Angela is trying her best to maintain the family’s schedule for the benefit of their children. On top of everything else, she has even managed without a working washing machine for nine weeks as they have waited for a technician and now parts. Angela usually spends her days at the hospital while the children are in school and daycare. Keith’s parents and neighbours also help with the children, which enables her time to be with Keith.
The couple is overwhelmed by the support their family has received, even from people they don’t know. Angela says, “We are extremely grateful for everything that everyone has done for us… I really don’t know how I would do this if it wasn’t for the support of our friends, family, and community. Every text, phone, Facebook message means so much to us.”
As of press time, the fundraiser had gathered over $8,000 of its $10,000 goal. To support the GoFundMe for Keith and Angela Virag, go to: gofund.me/7e8f7ea4.
