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Community rallying to support father fighting COVID-19 on ventilator

Longtime former Newmarket resident Bobby Dunlop remains unconscious, but there are signs of improvement, his daughter says
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Former Newmarket resident Bobby Dunlop is sedated and on a ventilator battling COVID-19. Supplied photo

The community is rallying to support a longtime former Newmarket resident who is battling COVID-19 on a ventilator.

Bobby Dunlop was taken by ambulance to Scarborough General Hospital last week, where he tested positive for COVID-19, his youngest daughter, Brittany Dunlop, said.

His condition worsened and non-invasive measures to help him breathe were not working, so he was placed on a ventilator, sedated and given four different medications, she said. 

"Putting him under was the only option because his lungs were failing him because he had pneumonia and COVID-19. It's been really stressful," she added. "It's really upsetting not talking to him every day, being with him, or even being able to check on him in the hospital because we can't visit him. It's been really hard."

Brittany has launched a GoFundMe  account to help her father on the road to recovery, when he is able to return home. So far, more than 80 donors have contributed close to $6,000.

"It's honestly been so awesome. We are so grateful. We've been getting all these messages, too. He's the kind of person who would go out of his way to do anything for people," Brittany said. 

"I knew he had a lot of friends, but seeing how much people have been willing to support him during his recovery has been so amazing and generous. I've been blown away."

Donor Rosemary Greco writes, "Bobby, I remember a couple of months ago you randomly reached out to see how I was doing. The fact you took time to reach out to people during such this challenging time just shows what kind of person you truly are. You care for people and you have a heart of gold. Rick and I are praying for you and your recovery. I can’t wait to see you get better."

Donor Peter Moore writes, "As said, Bobby would literally give anyone the shirt off his back..."

Dunlop, 56, lived and raised his family in Newmarket and some of his children and grandchildren still live in town, although he has since moved to Scarborough. 

His daughter describes him has a real family man with a warm sense of humour and giving nature.

He has diabetes and a history of heart disease, she said, and he initially just felt under the weather. He lost his appetite, which exacerbated his diabetes.

Things came to a head just over a week ago when he began having trouble breathing.

While her father remains unconscious, he is showing signs of improvement, Brittany said. His breathing relies on less machine assistance than before, and the sedation has been scaled back. He was transferred to North York General Hospital on Tuesday to make room in the ICU.

"His oxygen levels are at 95 per cent (of normal), so in that sense, he is doing well. But he's still sedated, and on life support, so we are taking it day by day," she said.

She acknowledges her father isn't out of the woods yet, and it is possible his condition could worsen again, and doctors have not said when it might be safe to bring him out of sedation.

When he is ready to leave the hospital, he is going to need rehabilitation, a wheelchair, home care, prescriptions and other necessities for his recovery, she said. The family doesn't know the full extent of what will be required but is already lining things up for him.

"He's going to need at least a month of rehab," she said. "He hasn't walked in so long, and his muscles are paralyzed right now from the medication. They are going to have to rework the muscles in his neck, hands, legs, everything."

The money raised online will greatly help offset those costs, but likely not cover them completely, she added.