Ottawa man left paralyzed after surgery in Spain cleared for rehab

An Ottawa couple has finally received some good news after their dream vacation to Spain spiralled into a nightmare.

While vacationing in Spain at the end of February, Brian Seaby, 65, began feeling numbness in his feet andpain in his back.

After being rushed into emergency surgery in Mlaga to remove four tumours from his spinal column, Seaby became paralyzed from the chest down.

As if that wasn't enough, Seaby found out upon arriving back in Canada on March 20 that he had tested positive for COVID-19. His wife, Carol Seaby,68, began experiencing symptoms of the respiratory illness soon after. She was also tested and confirmed positive.

• Ottawa man with COVID-19 back home after travel ordeal from Spain

Last week, Brian Seaby was finally cleared to begin rehabilitation.

"This is really what we've been waiting for. We really think this is one step forward," Carol Seaby told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning.

Cleared of COVID-19

Brian Seaby has received two negative COVID-19 tests since his return to Canada.

Carol Seaby is in the second stage of the illness and is likely no longer contagious, although she still has a cough and remains congested.

"It has been a very, very long stay [at home]," she said.

Following Seaby's surgery in Spain, the family was told he wouldn't walk again, but might regain some movement in his legs.

"We haven't been made any promises, to tell you the truth," his wifesaid.

Nevertheless, Carol Seabysaid the family is hoping for the best. "He's very strong."

Costly airlift

On top of the emotional toll, the family has spent approximately $250,000 on medical bills and a privateairliftout of Spain.

Carol Seaby said the expensive airlift was worth it because her husband needed further surgery to remove more tumours, but thehospital in Mlaga was quickly becoming a hotspot for the virus.

• 'We have nothing,' says Spanish ER doctor on front lines of COVID-19 crisis
• Spain's coronavirus cases top 100,000 as masks, sanitizer flown in

Coronavirus has killed more than 20,000 people in Spain.

"It's only in retrospect that we realize some of the symptoms that we had. But we were in the room and there were no precautions," she said. "I really feel like we would have been in dire straits if we had stayed there."