Jennifer Taylor’s health took a sudden turn for the worse when she found it difficult to breathe while lying down. The 50-year-old resident of Constance Lake First Nation fell ill in November 2021 and sought medical help at Hearst hospital on the 12th. Familiar with asthma, she suspected pneumonia and was prescribed antibiotics, but her condition did not improve.
After multiple visits to the hospital without relief, Taylor decided to call an ambulance to be taken more seriously by the doctors. Upon arrival, she received immediate oxygen support, which brought immense relief. Despite being sent home again, she struggled to breathe and was distraught to learn of the deaths of three community members— Luke Moore, Lorraine Shaganash, and Lizzie Sutherland—due to a fungal lung disease called blastomycosis.
Unaware of blastomycosis before this incident, Taylor was eventually airlifted to a hospital in North Bay and admitted to the intensive care unit as her health deteriorated. Despite her fears of the disease, she survived and underwent rigorous treatment to recover. Returning home to Constance Lake, she faced a new reality, especially with the threat of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 looming.
Taylor’s recovery journey included physiotherapy, lung exercises, and readjusting to daily activities. However, the trauma of the illness lingered, affecting her daily life and causing anxiety. She gradually resumed work at the Jane Mattinas Health Centre, focusing on health and wellness programs, but remains cautious about her health, especially after discovering scarring on her lungs.
The lasting impact of blastomycosis has made Taylor more vulnerable, leading to changes in her lifestyle and heightened health concerns. Despite her resilience, the fear of a potential recurrence of the disease continues to haunt her. The outbreak in Constance Lake has raised awareness about blastomycosis, with 19 additional cases reported in the district between 2022 and 2025. An ongoing inquest is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths during the outbreak.