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Mother's Day: Richmond doctor's celebration postponed for safety

A Richmond ER doctor encourages everyone to get vaccinated and hold off on family celebrations.

Weekly dinners have been off the table and it looks like Mother’s Day celebrations will be deferred until it’s safer to meet in person.

Despite being able to vaccinate his mother, Olive, earlier this spring, for Matthew Kwok, an emergency department doctor at Richmond Hospital, this mother’s day won’t be a typical one for his family.

With the number of COVID-19 cases still high and restrictions in place, at this point, the greater good will trump family gatherings.

But Kwok is hopeful that as vaccinations roll out and restrictions ease, he and his family will be able to celebrate mother’s day some time in the summer instead.

“I want to see her but I want people to be safe as well,” Kwok said.  

Olive has also not been able to see her grandchildren. With his son leaving for university in the U.S. in the fall, Kwok hopes his son will be able to spend time with his grandmother.

Kwok speaks with his mother almost every day and sometimes he drives by and she comes to the front door and they wave to each other.  

As a doctor, Kwok is pleased to see the vaccinations rolling out and he encourages everyone to get the COVID-19 shot as soon as they are eligible.

Watching the news from India and other hotspots, he feels fortunate to be in Canada where vaccines are available.

“As Canadians, we are very blessed to have the opportunity and we should take advantage of the opportunity of helping ourselves and those around us,” he said.