Expanded Me, Mom & Covid: A Year Later documentary launches Absolutely Canadian series

This updated Me, Mom & Covid documentary adds a new chapter to the story; visiting Edwina a year after Saras death to see her thriving, surrounded by new friends and the center of social life in her seniors' residence.

Me, Mom & Covid: A Year Later is a portrait of compassion and familial love

CBC Posted: Sep 13, 2021 8:32 AM EDT | Last Updated: September 13, 2021

Me, Mom & Covid: A Year later adds a new chapter to a documentary exploring the Sexton family's struggle with grief. (CBC)

Me, Mom & Covid:A Year Later is a love letter to Sara Sexton, a woman known for her compassion who died at the age of 97 in February 2020.

The Absolutely Canadian documentary airing this Saturday on CBC-TV at 7:30 p.m. NT is an expanded version of the CBC short by the same name. This documentary adds a new chapter to the Sextonfamily's struggle with grief and their quest to finda new home for their eldestsibling, Edwina.

Sarabecame a well-known AIDS activist after her son Tommy's death from the disease in 1993. She made national headlines by speaking about Tommy's death from AIDS andthe need for empathy on stage at the 1994 Gemini Awards where CODCO was receiving an award.

She continued to advocate for gay rights and fought the stigma of AIDS throughout the 1990s and 2000s visiting classrooms and raising money for the Tommy Sexton Centrewhile continuing to care for Edwina.

Watch Me, Mom & Covid: A Year Later on CBC Gem

The documentary is a family affair, directed by Sara's grandson Nik and produced by daughter Mary and featuring many of the Sexton siblings.Me, Mom & Covid: A Year Later explores the family's grief and their efforts to transition eldest daughter Edwina, who has a mental disability, into a senior's residence.

Edwina struggles with the loss of her mother as well asthe loss of the only home she has ever known. She moves into the senior's residence and is living there for only a short period of time when COVID-19 visiting restrictions cut her off from her siblings.

This updated version of the documentary adds a new chapter to the story, visiting Edwina a year after Sara's death to see her thriving, surrounded by new friends and the centre of social life in the enior's residence.

Edwina's mischievous and bubbly approach to life and the unequivocal love of her siblings reminds viewers of what is truly essential in this uplifting and intimate family portrait.Me, Mom & Covid: A Year Lateris now available on the CBC Gem app.

With files from Angela Antle

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