Hamilton drummer Gene Champagne of Teenage Head, Killjoys on ventilator with COVID-19

Prominent musician Gene Champagne, a drummer from Hamilton who performs with Teenage Head and other rock bands, is ona ventilator in an intensive-care unit battlingCOVID-19.

The 52-year-old's wife,Julie Champagne, saidhe has been on the ventilator at Joseph Brant Hospitalin Burlington, Ont., since Thursdayas a "last resort."

In a phone interview Monday morning, she said: "He's heavily sedated, he's not conscious and we don't know the end in sight, unfortunately."

Gene also playsfor Canadian bands the Killjoys and Tongue Fu, and fronts his own group, The Un-Teens.

Julie isoptimistic her husband willpull through, but sheandtheir roughly year-old dog, Figgy, are both staying in their Stoney Creek home, missing Gene.

"Figgysleeps on his pillow at night. That's a new thing ... I know that's her way of telling me she's missing him," she said.

"She does still look for him in the house. He would come home from work forlunchtimeevery day, and she's a bit out of sorts because he's not here."

Julie said she and Gene haven't flocked to stores and restaurants overthe past year because "we thought it was too soon. Wedidn't want to chance it. And it happened anyway.

"It felt like a shock ... we were pretty fortunate up until now."

Teenage Head posted about itsdrummer on Facebook.

"Gene's wife Julie sends hugs from both of them for all the loving support and good vibes they've received during this difficult time, and apologizes for not being able to keep up with the overwhelming response they've received," the bandwrote.

The Killjoys tweeted late Monday asking fans to continue to have good thoughts.

"Pulling for you, brother," the band said.

Familyhopes people see COVID-19 is real

Julie said Gene fell ill two weeks ago,through his full-time job outside musicthat involvestransportation and logistics. Little else is known about how he gotthe virus.

He initially tested negative for COVID-19, but as his fever, chills, body aches, lack of appetite and other symptomsworsened, Julie said, he took another test that came back positive.

Julie said she's avoided getting COVID-19 bydistancing while at home together.

As Gene's condition deteriorated, Julieworried he had a chest infection. He ended up in Joseph Brant Hospital, and tests confirmed he had pneumonia because of COVID-19.

"The whole time he was in hospital, he was on oxygen and they had to keep increasing it ... I was able to see him for two days, and Thursday he was moved to the ICU [intensive-care unit] because he required stronger oxygen. Unfortunately, that was the last resort before the ventilator," said Julie.

Before he moved into the ICU, she said,hospital staff were cautious and they'd try to make him smile. She said she tried to speak with him when he wasn't too uncomfortable. They would talk about their winsof the day and kept their conversations light.

"It's important for people to know this is real," she said.

No pre-existing conditions

Lou Molinaro, the former co-owner of the now-defunctThis Ain't Hollywood music venue in downtown Hamilton, said Gene's condition hasshaken the local music scene and reverberated beyond Canada, prompting online comments from people abroad.

"He'shighly respected ... he has that thorough knowledge ofsong composition and being a solid songwriter," said Molinaro. "A lot of people recognize Gene as not just being a musician, but an overall artist.

"When it hits a musician like Gene, it really shows how fragile music has become because of COVID."

Molinaro saidseeing a friend he's known for more than a decadeget infected is "super scary."

"It's put a lot of perspective on this whole COVID thing, and for people who don't believe in it ... this is real and it's really hit home. It's a really bad reality check," he said.

"The good thing about Gene is a he's a fighter ... he'll get through this."

Julie is also optimistic.

"The statistics for this are really scary, but Gene is a young guy and didn't have pre-existing health conditions, and he's healthy enough to fight this," she said.

"We have that on our side. His body just needs a break and that's what the ventilator will do for him. And now it's just a waiting game."

Julie said the outpouring of support has been unbelievable.

"I wish he could feel it. I wish he knew. I can't wait to wake him up and read all of this stuff to him."