For most people, having the flu usually means being sick for a few days, snuggled up in a blanket with some hot beverages. For Glendene Barrow, it meant a 26-week stay in hospital and a near-death experience.

An Ambulance Built for Two

“I was unwell through most of the fall of 2023,” Glendene explains. “I had gone through a couple of rounds of antibiotics, and I was on medication for my arthritis and psoriasis, which breaks down my immune system.”

Despite the care she was receiving, her health was declining rapidly with no explanation. But the high school teacher from Gambo, N.L., toughed it out and kept moving forward—until the day in January 2024 when she couldn’t move.

In a twist of fate, her husband, Don, also fell ill.

“I spent all one Friday and Saturday in my recliner while Don was sick in his chair downstairs, neither of us realizing it!

“I was struggling to stay awake by this time, while Don had fallen and couldn’t get up.”

Help arrived when their friends, Byron and Sylvia Diamond, decided to check in on them, and an ambulance was called.

“The paramedics mentioned the word ‘septic,’ which scared me,” Glendene recalls. “I don’t remember anything after getting in the ambulance and being placed on oxygen.”

Home at Last

Don and Glendene were diagnosed with influenza and strep A, with double pneumonia added for Glendene.

“I spent two days at the Gander, N.L., hospital, where Don was, but they quickly realized there was nothing they could do for me,” Glendene says. “They tried to stabilize me and organized an emergency airlift to St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital in St. John’s, N.L. The doctors feared I would not survive the flight, but by some miracle, I did.”

In the days that followed, Glendene’s health remained precarious, and she was in and out of consciousness. She spent 11 weeks in the ICU until she slowly stabilized. During this time, Glendene was fed by a feeding tube and breathed with the help of a tracheotomy.

“I did not fully wake up until late February,” she says. “My mom’s birthday, February 22, is the first thing I can somewhat clearly remember. At that time, I was still experiencing delirium—nightmares. It was a scary time for me. Once I woke fully, there were weeks of recuperation for my lungs.”

Glendene spent a total of 16 weeks at St. Clare’s followed by five weeks of rehab in Gander, and then another five weeks in St. John's. She returned home on June 28, using a walker for mobility.

“Don was not hit as hard as I was,” she says. “And he was not in the hospital as long—11 days versus my 26 weeks in all.”

“Not Done Yet”

As her situation remained bleak, Glendene’s family signed a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order because the medical team did not believe she could handle additional trauma.

 “I had everything going against me,” she smiles now.

Not everyone felt that way. Major Barbara Pritchett, the hospital chaplain at St. Clare’s, remembers the day she accompanied the family to meet with the doctors in charge.

“The news that day was grim,” she says, “presenting the idea of removing life support. Don joined us by conference call because he was battling his own illness in Gander. I will never forget Don’s response as he forcefully replied, albeit with a voice compromised by his own illness, ‘My wife is a strong woman. She is not done yet.’ ”

Salvationist Support

During all this time, Glendene received tremendous prayer support, and her family and friends never gave up hope.

She had many visitors and well wishes during her lengthy stay at the hospital. A member of The Salvation Army and a former pastor herself, the church rallied to her cause from all over the world.

“Local pastors were in the midst of their annual meetings in St. John’s when I was hospitalized,” she says. “Many of them took the time to come see me at the hospital. I was not awake at the beginning, but they prayed over me and surrounded me in prayer. People everywhere were assuring my family of their prayer support.”

Throughout the darkest moments of this illness, Glendene continued to reach out to God, and she experienced peace, never doubting His presence.

“I remember always feeling at peace,” she says. “I did not ask, ‘Why me?’ I took the bumps along the way and fought back. My stubbornness and strong will were a positive for my recuperation.”

Green for Glendene

Glendene’s high school colleagues and students at Smallwood Academy in Gambo never forgot her, either. On February 29, they held a green day—her favourite colour—and named it “Green for Glendene.” Everyone was invited to dress in green and share their photos, and with that, they created a video to lift her spirits.

“It was very touching,” says Glendene. “This started at school but it went viral. Family and friends from all over shared their photos with me. I still watch the video when I need to be encouraged. Students also dropped by with frog figurines, something I collect.”

“Keep Fighting”

Prayer continued for Glendene’s healing. She had been in a coma for several weeks, but many people and churches continued in prayer.

“As I walked through the doors of the ICU one day,” says Major Barbara, “Don motioned over to me. There was Glendene, eyes wide open, responding to her loved ones.

“Right before my eyes, I witnessed a miracle.”

Glendene has come a long way on her healing journey.

Today, she is still on the road to recovery but she is now back to work part time and is enjoying her time with her students.

Her goal was to be able to walk again and, with the support of a cane, she is once again feeling positive that a road to a full recovery is in full view.

“It was a fight to get through the healing process, but I remained strong in my faith, and I wanted to return to my previous lifestyle,” Glendene states. “I would encourage anyone in a similar situation to keep the faith and keep fighting for what you want.” 

Janice Keats is the emergency disaster services trainer for The Salvation Army’s Atlantic Division. Residing in Conception Bay South, N.L., she has authored three books and is actively engaged in sharing her faith story.