Father’s Day at St. Joe’s
To celebrate a few local dad’s this weekend, we asked them to reflect on what it has been like to be a new dad during the COVID-19 pandemic, while their little ones are staying in our Special Care Nursery.
Photo: Julan Oh with son, Ian
It’s been overwhelming becoming a first-time dad during a pandemic. We felt very well taken care of at St. Joe’s; the healthcare workers caring for my baby Ian, my wife, and I were very kind. My wife and I are newcomers to Canada, we arrived in January 2020, so this has all been a very challenging situation. The hospital showed us a very kind and affirming attitude – they explained everything very clearly and kindly and we were very happy with that. Every day we also pray for help and protection for our baby. I’m a lucky man.
Photo: Ryan LoPresti with son, Liam
Going into this whole process was very nerve-wracking with the new protocols, but it turned out to be pretty seamless. Liam is our second baby and that made it a little bit easier than if it was the first. My wife and I have really been leaning on each other – things have been a bit harder for her with Liam being in the Special Care Nursery, since we can only visit one at a time. When he grows up, I’ll tell him what a blessing it was to be born healthy in the middle of a pandemic – it’s a crazy time in the world. I certainly won’t forget this experience and I’ll cherish it forever.
Photo: Rob Sobolewski with daughter, Eleni
The experience of being a father during COVID-19 has made things a little more impersonal, but my wife and I send photos to our families to keep them up-to-date.
Preparing for the baby, I was in the midst of renovating our kitchen when our daughter was born. She was over a month premature, so the renos are now on hold to be a new dad.
Photo: Mosharaf Hossain with son, Tahmid Afsan
My wife’s water broke at 29 weeks in her pregnancy and we rushed to the hospital. She transferred to St. Joe’s about a week later and the staff have been very helpful. My wife doesn’t speak English well, but the care team makes sure I feel involved with phone call updates. Initially, we felt nervous with COVID-19, but we couldn’t do it without the hospitals’ policies to keep our son and my wife safe.
My wife and I moved to Canada last October and we are lucky to be surrounded by a good community, including our friends. I’m excited to hopefully have my wife and first-born son home in a few days.