Shock and fear have crept into the Baie Verte Peninsula after H1N1 claimed one of their own.

A mother of two young boys, Lori Savoury, just 36 years of age, became the province’s first casualty of the influenza that has swept through communities like the tiny inlet of Middle Arm.

Born and raised in the small town that’s peak population barely passes 600, Savoury died on Halloween of complications related to H1N1 and an underlying medical condition believed to be asthma.

Rowena Bursey, a family friend and deputy mayor of the town, said the community is still trying to cope with the loss of a truly nice woman.

“It came as a big shock to me, it really did,” Bursey told The Western Star, recalling how she had to close down her restaurant that night after receiving the bad news. “Everybody is devastated. Nobody was expecting her to die.”

In true Newfoundland fashion, Bursey said families throughout the region — especially in the three neighbouring communities of Middle Arm, Smith’s Harbour and Burlington — have already been doing whatever they can for the family. Lori’s husband Gary is left to raise their two sons, Gary and Jasper, who Bursey estimated to be 12 and 10 years old.

She said talks are already taking place about how towns, organizations and individual citizens can make contributions to help the family in their time of devastation and need.

She described Savoury first as a loving mother, who treated her boys really well, and as an avid outdoorsperson who loved hunting with her husband.

“I offered them anything they need,” said Bursey, who was particularly close the youngest boy Jasper because he frequents the restaurant and is very outgoing. “Lori is gone, there’s not much you can do there. But, the family is ordinary working people, so I would suspect we will be getting together and doing what we can ... I guess it is the Newfoundland thing to do.”

She said Savoury became ill two weeks ago, and put off seeking medical attention for a week. Last Saturday, she went to the hospital in Baie Verte and was rushed to Grand Falls-Windsor the following day. A week after she first went to hospital, she died. Bursey said she developed pneumonia in her lungs, and it was a heart attack that eventually claimed her life.

The deputy mayor said the influenza has struck the area pretty hard, estimating at least 30 people in the small town have been bedridden by the illness. In fact, her own husband, Charlie, suffered for a lengthy period of time, only recently getting on the mend. She said people in the area have had their eyes opened.

“People were pretty worried here from the beginning, but now they know what can really happen,” she said. “I know Lori had underlying problems, and usually those are the ones it affects more, but I can understand. Charlie was so sick that, I know, if he had an underlying problem, he would have been a lot worse than he was.
“A lot of people in town are sick, but I guess they are more fortunate they are healthier and it’s not affecting them as much.”

Meanwhile, another resident Glenda Smith, said people are devastated by the loss and fearful of the potential of this pandemic.

“It really does make it hit home,” she said. “We can hear it on the news and we can hear about people in Ontario or wherever, but, when it is home, it is something totally different.
“People are just not taking heed. They need to stay home and people are not.”