'My heart just sunk': Mother recounts experience at packed Alberta Children's Hospital
CTV
An Alberta mother is recounting her experience arriving at a packed children's hospital when her young daughter was in dire need of help.
An Alberta mother is recounting her experience arriving at a packed children's hospital when her young daughter was in dire need of help.
Amanda Weger said it's been a terrifying two weeks since she brought her daughter Avery into the Alberta Children's Hospital, where the 23-month-old remains with RSV and the flu.
"We originally went to urgent care here in Airdrie and the parking lot was completely packed," she said. "So, I decided to drive in to Children's."
A surge in respiratory illnesses in children has slammed the hospital – with wait times exceeding 12 hours.
With the hospital working at-capacity some days, Alberta Health Services set up a heated trailer outside as an overflow waiting room and paused respite care so staff from the children’s hospice can help at the hospital instead.
"It was scary, it was very scary," Amanda said. "I saw that trailer being unloaded and my heart just sunk, like, is that where we are?"
But, it makes sense, she added. When Amanda brought Avery in, the waiting room had chairs lined up to the doors.
