Friend of Edmonton woman who died of blood clot says she was turned away from hospital

EDMONTON - A family friend of an Edmonton woman who died of a rare blood clot condition linked to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine says she was turned away from a city hospital.

Lisa Stonehouse, 52, died at the University of Alberta Hospital just after 5 a.m. on Monday following complications due to vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). Stonehouse is Alberta’s second case of VITT and her death is the first related to the condition in the province.

Wilf Lowenberg, a friend, said Stonehouse received the AstraZeneca vaccine on April 21.

“She had the normal symptoms, headaches, that they associate with the vaccine, but it never went away and it steadily progressed to be worse,” he said.

A week later, on April 28, Stonehouse called Health Link and spoke to a nurse who told her it sounded like she had normal symptoms, but to contact a doctor if it doesn’t get better, Lowenberg said. But her symptoms worsened and on April 29 she went to Grey Nuns Hospital.

He said Stonehouse came out five to 10 minutes later and said she was told she had normal symptoms and was turned away.

In a statement Covenant Health said they offer their condolences to Stonehouse’s family and loved ones.

“Covenant Health, in collaboration with Alberta Health Services, is actively investigating all circumstances surrounding her visit to the emergency department, and have assured the family we are looking into their concerns.”

By April 30, Lowenberg said Stonehouse was “basically bedridden” and she was taken to the Strathcona Hospital in Sherwood Park.

“They immediately admitted her, ran a CT scan on her and found a blood clot, with a brain bleed,” he said.

Stonehouse was then transported to the University of Alberta Hospital but, on the way there, she suffered a seizure.

“By the time she got to the U of A hospital, they did another CT scan, and there was nothing more they could do,” Lowenberg said. “They ran further tests and everything else but it was obvious that Lisa had lost brain function, and there was no coming back from it.”

On Monday, Stonehouse was taken off life support. Rare condition

Late Tuesday night, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, announced a woman in her 50s had died, and her death was linked to VITT.

“While any death is tragic, it is important to remember that the risks of dying or suffering other severe outcomes from COVID-19 remain far greater than the risk following AstraZeneca vaccine,” Hinshaw said in a statement.