'things just kept getting worse and worse': a retiree's battle with rsv
rsv leads to hospitalization of about 23,000 canadians over the age of 60 annually
published nov 11, 2025
4 minute read
4 minute read
when ulfar gudjonsson (right) was diagnosed, neither he nor his wife had heard of rsv before. nick kozak
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gsk
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
when ulfar and marie gudjonsson returned from one of their regular trips to mexico, they thought all they had brought home were souvenirs.
but within weeks of their return, then 72-year-old ulfar, a retired pilot, was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (rsv). what followed was a battle that would take over their lives for the next two and a half years.
until the diagnosis, the couple had been enjoying an active retirement, spending their time travelling around the world and living a healthy lifestyle.
both worked hard to keep on top of their well-being, going to the gym a few times a week, taking long walks and eating healthy foods. “we always had exercise equipment in the house,” says marie. “we enjoyed being fit and active.”
ulfar had a relatively mild case of covid while travelling in mexico, and everything was on the mend when they headed home. it was not long, however, before he started experiencing new symptoms.
“my lungs were filling up a lot,” says ulfar. “i was probably producing a litre and a half of mucus every day. i started coughing and my throat was uncomfortable. things just kept getting worse and worse.”
“his cough was the most terrible i have ever heard,” says marie. his wife also noticed a marked difference in his appearance. “he looked five or 10 years older. his skin colour was terrible, and his eyes looked so tired.”
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since his doctor was out of town, he received a medical consultation with another doctor over the phone. the doctor prescribed inhalers, which had no effect. in fact, he was getting worse.
when his own doctor returned and listened to his lungs, he suspected ulfar had rsv, a contagious respiratory virus that is most active from fall through early spring in canada. rsv spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing droplets that can enter another person’s mouth, eyes or nose. it can be spread by close contact with infected individuals, or sharing personal items such as drinks, or by touching contaminated surfaces. people can catch rsv multiple times during their lifetime.
symptoms are usually mild and can be similar to the common cold, such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, fever, decreased appetite and energy.
however, the virus can lead to serious illness in infants under six months, older adults, immunocompromised people and individuals with pre-existing conditions such as lung or heart disease or asthma.
when ulfar was diagnosed, neither he nor his wife had heard of rsv before. “i had a pneumonia shot along the way and did a couple of covid shots, and we would do our flu shots every year,” says ulfar. “but we knew nothing at all about rsv.”
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they were not alone in their lack of knowledge. even though rsv is a common contagious respiratory virus, a 2024 survey showed that 46 per cent of older canadians have never heard of rsv. yet in canada, it is estimated that more than 23,000 adults aged 60 and older are hospitalized with rsv annually. for some of these patients, they experience ongoing loss of independence many months after hospitalization.
rsv can act as a tipping point, potentially leading to serious long-term health consequences. most worrying, one-in-nine patients 65 and older hospitalized with rsv do not survive.
ulfar’s doctor prescribed a new treatment regimen, and things began to improve quickly. even still, a full recovery seemed out of reach. “i suspected i had never gotten rid of it because i continued to cough up yellow-green stuff every day,” says ulfar. “that went on for two years.”
during another trip to mexico, he struggled, says marie. “he couldn’t keep up with me, even on short walks. when we walked up the incline to our vacation house, he had to stop three times because he was so tired. it wasn’t like he exercised and started to feel benefits. he just wasn’t getting any better. when you don’t have stamina, physically and mentally you get depressed.”
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after another round of treatment, things finally began to improve. today, the couple feels ulfar is back to his old self with no lingering effects.
“it is only in the last six months that he feels like he is getting back to normal,” says marie.
the physical recovery was not the only challenge. rsv took its toll on their lifestyle, she adds. “we didn’t feel like socializing because nobody wanted to be around somebody coughing. we tended to cocoon.”
for once-active retirees, retreating from their normal routine was not easy to accept, she says. “at our age, every day is precious. we appreciate our health so much more. it’s hard to explain to younger people, but you wonder how many more years you can expect to have stamina to do the things we do today. months of losing out on that is devastating.”
asked whether he had any advice to share to others, ulfar’s answer is a simple one: talk to your doctor about rsv. there are vaccines and other ways to lower your risk, and it’s worth knowing what’s out there. and if you start feeling sick – don’t wait. just go see a doctor right away. be proactive.
healthing con
this story was created by healthing content works, healthing.ca’s commercial content division, on behalf of gsk.
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