After 23 days in the intensive care unit of a Florida hospital, Ángel Eduardo lost his fight against COVID-19.
More than 15,000 kilometres away, Frank Madrid thought that the best way to pay tribute to his beloved brother was to become a volunteer for a clinical trial taking place in Canberra to find a coronavirus vaccine.
"I decided to honour his memory by helping science so that no other person has to suffer the great pain of losing a loved one [to COVID]," he told SBS Spanish.
Frank says that he's also volunteering in a bid to fight disinformation. He wants to do his bit to help science become the guiding light towards a solution to what he calls a "global health catastrophe".
Highlights:
- Frank says his brother was both a victim of COVID-19 and of the lack of leadership in battling the health crisis in the United States.
- The Venezuelan crisis has made it even more difficult for him to be able to mourn the death of his brother with his family.
- Frank is partaking in one of the four vaccine trials underway in Australia.
We must tell the world that science is going to get us out of this predicament. There is no vaccine for ignorance. We can only combat misinformation with facts.
Victim of COVID-19 and ‘lack of leadership’
Ángel Eduardo resided with his family in Florida, one of the US states that hastened to open its beaches and lift restrictions on youth activities, including summer camps, in June.
It was a decision that caused controversy.
Frank says his brother was “very aware of the danger” posed by the coronavirus, and says that Ángel and his family were following all COVIDSafe protocols.
However, he believes Floridians were exposed to the virus due to a lack of leadership in dealing with the pandemic.
My brother, like hundreds of thousands of people in the United States and around the world, have fallen victim to a lack of leadership, on various levels.
Frank blames the inaction of US authorities, who sent "a message of tranquillity" and not one of alert.
"The economy was prioritised over the health and wellbeing citizens", Frank laments.
"They should have told everyone to take care and put their health first."
Despite all efforts to protect himself and stay safe, Ángel Eduardo became infected and was admitted to hospital.
Within a few days, his condition worsened and he had to be intubated.
After more than three weeks in the intensive care unit, he perished.
“When he was in the hospital I managed to speak with him. I had the wonderful opportunity to hear him say that he loved me and I was able to tell him that I loved him. But then his condition worsened and he succumbed to the effects of COVID. It was very hard," Frank says.
"This been very hard to process, as we are very far away."
One of the most psychologically distressing aspects of the COVID health crisis has been that patients die alone, after periods of isolation. Their loved ones are also left to mourn in isolation, often without being able to carry out group memorials due to social restrictions.
Source: Supplied by Frank Madrid
In the case of the Venezuelan community, the situation is even more complex. It is estimated that some five million people have fled Venezuela due to the complex humanitarian crisis crippling the country.
The large Venezuelan diaspora spread worldwide, migrating to wherever they could, so hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan families have several close relatives living in different countries of the world.
Frank Madrid's family is an example of this. His brother lived in Florida, while his sister lives in Australia, and their mother stayed behind in Venezuela. This, Frank says, makes mourning even more painful.
It has been very hard. We cannot hug each other and cry together. It has been very difficult not being able to undertake the usual rites we practice when we lose a loved one.
For Frank, the development of a vaccine also means the possibility to mourn with family.
A vaccine could lead to the reopening borders, and Frank would like to go to Florida to pay his respects to his brother.
"My decision to join this vaccine trial was also motivated by the idea that maybe this vaccine could help us travel again, so I could cross the world and go visit my brother's ashes.
“[As migrants in Australia], part of our contract with life when we moved here is that we were just a few hours away by plane from our destinations… 12, 15 hours, however long… We didn't have to cut our ties.
Frank and Angel Eduardo. Source: Frank Madrid
"That is not a possibility now and I think we have to find the formula for science to help us minimise the risk and learn to live with this terrible enemy that is COVID-19."
Vaccine trials underway in Australia
As soon as Frank heard the news that scientists were seeking for volunteers for a clinical trial in Australia, he did not hesitate to sign up.
He opted for the Novavax trial in Canberra, one of four vaccine trials underway in Australia.
According to The Canberra Times, "the vaccine itself is part of the genetic sequence of COVID-19, so there is no risk of infection”.
"Everybody leaves the clinic and goes back to work or goes back to their daily routine," said Paratus Clinical Research Commercial Director, Matt Clacy.
The vaccine was first tested on 130 people between the ages of 18 and 59 in two Australian cities.
During the second stage, the trial vaccine will be tested on 1500 people, including a group of people over 60 years of age.
"It's a study where there is an 80 percent chance that you get the vaccine and a 20 percent chance that you get a placebo," Frank explains.
He says that in order to participate in this study, he went through an exhaustive list of medical evaluations to determine his good health and rule out pre-existing diseases.
Once all the tests are passed, volunteers are given the injection and have to comply with a series of reports and follow-up on their health status.
"After the injection, I feel absolutely fine and confident that I am doing the right thing."
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction's restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
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