WINNIPEG A Winnipeg woman said a 911 operator talked her through administering naloxone to her son who overdosed in his bedroom. Heather Witherden said she went to check on her 25-year-old son on Sunday evening and found him unresponsive. When I actually touched him, he felt cool and I got scared, she said, adding he woke up shortly after. I literally just came back like 10 minutes later, and that s when I found him again completely kind of like slumped over. On his desk, along with other drug paraphernalia, was a kit containing naloxone – the drug that temporarily counters the effects of opioids.
I say this every year, but it doesn’t make it any less true: I’ve left a lot on the table this year. So many people stepped up and did incredible things in 2020. There were thousands of people who achieved amazing things, faced the pandemic battle on the front lines, gave back, received awards and impacted lives. I try to do 100 new names every year and not repeat any from previous lists. That said, I’ve still got dozens of names to carry forward to next year. Please stay safe and look after yourself. All the best, always.
A COVID-19 suspected patient is brought into a resuscitation bay in the adult emergency department at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. The amount of personal sacrifice for literally putting their own lives at risk to help others is immeasurable, says Burpee. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)