Months after fighting a dangerous battle with COVID-19, Myrine Kakfwi is still fighting.
The Fort Good Hope man became critically ill after testing positive for COVID-19 in December of last year. He spent more than two months in the University of Alberta hospital in Edmonton, where he was in an induced coma for weeks.
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Released from hospital in early March, heSA国际影视传媒檚 no longer fighting for survival but fighting to regain the life he used to have.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 more frustrated and angry than anything,SA国际影视传媒� he said over the phone from Edmonton. SA国际影视传媒淚 never saw one penny from the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit. The apartment ISA国际影视传媒檓 living in isnSA国际影视传媒檛 subsidized. All the resources I need that are supposed to be there arenSA国际影视传媒檛 there. ISA国际影视传媒檝e been doing this on my own for three months.SA国际影视传媒�
While originally from Fort Good Hope, Kakfwi moved down to Edmonton about three years ago with plans to pursue carpentry at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. He had been doing carpenter apprentice work until his COVID-19 diagnosis.
He returned to the North for one year in 2019, when he hunted and trapped in the bush near Colville Lake. He said thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the reason why he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit because he earned no income that year.
Uphill battle to recover strength
The 30-year-oldSA国际影视传媒檚 lung capacity is greatly reduced due to the damage of the three infections he contracted while weakened from COVID-19. One lung collapsed.
He recalls how difficult it was to leave the hospital on March 7, when his uncle came to pick him up.
SA国际影视传媒淚 had to take my bags out to the vehicle by myself and that made me feel like I had just run 10 kilometres,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淭he first month I had no energy. I felt hungover. I could barely walk. Even walking down the street I had to work hard to catch my breath.SA国际影视传媒�
Frustrated by his experiences with doctors since his release, he said he is mostly taking it upon myself to recover his physical strength.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 working out these days. Doing push-ups, sit-ups, lifting heavy objects. ISA国际影视传媒檓 doing this with no help from the government. The physical activities are from my own determination. I push myself day after day to go farther,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 a far cry from his physical activity of one year ago, when he regularly played hockey, badminton, soccer and volleyball.
Still, he said heSA国际影视传媒檚 improving, however slowly.
After he stopped taking antibiotics in April he has been feeling better. He is able to run a little and rides his bike around his neighbourhood.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 noticing progression but there are some days when I feel soreness in my chest when I do exercise.SA国际影视传媒�
He can eat full meals these days. He enjoys the occasional package of dried geese and caribou sent from his parents in the Sahtu region.
He has also made new friends in Edmonton, who he said sometimes bring him food and furniture.
SA国际影视传媒淚 barely know them but theySA国际影视传媒檙e helping me out,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
As for the future, Kakfwi wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 speculate. He said his dream of becoming of a carpenter is SA国际影视传媒渄ead.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 know if I will go back to the apprenticeships. I have the option to do out-of-province training but with all of these COVID-19 restrictions I canSA国际影视传媒檛 do that. (And) money-wise ISA国际影视传媒檓 already broke.SA国际影视传媒�
Taking life one day at a time, Kakfwi said his anger gives him motivation to keep fighting.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 angry at everybody for turning their backs on me and the government for not supporting me. If I give up, they win. If I do it on my own I can tell everybody I did it with just one lung.SA国际影视传媒�
