Willie Carpuz arrived home with his family after spending 11 months in hospital recovering from COVID.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Joy Bandoquillo

A Kamloops man is back home with his family in time for Christmas, after spending 11 months in Royal Inland Hospital battling COVID-19.

Willie Corpuz, 67, tested positive for the virus on Jan. 21, after an exposure at his work place, two weeks away from receiving his first vaccine. He was in the ICU with breathing problems for the first five months.

Joy Bandoquillo, a close friend of the Corpuz family, said the year was a rollercoaster of emotional ups and downs for family and friends and there were times it didn’t look like he would make it through.

“In the beginning he was sedated and intubated for a month,” she said. “His condition was severe. At one point he had to be revived in what is called a Code Blue. He was considered for a lung transplant but because of a blockage in his arteries it wasn’t possible.”

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Bandoquillo is from the Philippines and doesn’t have family in Canada. She calls the Corpuz family her adopted family, and she calls Willie “Papa Willie”.  She said the long, challenging ordeal has created a deeper bond with the family.

“This year we had to support each other through text and phone,” she said. “Filipinos are very connected and help neighbours during emotional times. You do chores, help with the children and cook food. Many times the pandemic prevented this. I got my updates standing in the front yard while they talked from the door.”

In June, Corpuz’s condition started to improve enough he could be moved to the hospital’s rehabilitation centre. Months of therapy followed to help him regain speech and movement of his hands and body.

“Papa’s twin daughters and wife visited him throughout his stay which I think gave him a lot of strength,” she said. “His granddaughter Hope was born while he was in hospital and I think that motivated him to get better.”

Willie Carpuz arrived home with his family after spending 11 months in hospital recovering from COVID.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Joy Bandoquillo

Bandoquillo said it felt like a miracle when she found out Papa Willie would be home for Christmas. He arrived back on Dec. 15.

“We are still rejoicing,” she said. “I saw him the day after his return and just cried in gratitude. He is such a thoughtful man who always does a lot for everyone else. We all have special spots at the dining table and it was magic to see him sitting back in his spot.”

A few days ago the Carpuz family organized a parade for those who had helped them and prayed with them across the year.

“People walked by with banners and balloons while he sat inside the front door waving and smiling and saying thank you to everybody,” she said. “He could see that the world was waiting for him.”

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