Overwhelmed by the support

I’m not sure that a few words on paper can adequately express the gratitude, love, and humility that the past few weeks have drawn out in us.

Ours is an unfortunate situation: at a pivotal and exciting time in our lives, a disease that affects so many entered into our consciousness and being and has decided to wreak a little havoc.

My wife, Meghan, and I were days away from a new beginning: at six months pregnant, the ink on a mortgage on a pretty little house in Riverdale not yet dry and our future looking bright and beautiful and everything we wanted it to be, a brain tumour reared its ugly little head and put on the brakes.

The last month has been filled with fear, anxiety and unknowns. Paradoxically, unbelievably, beautifully, it has also been filled with unparalleled generosity, selflessness and a sense of belonging that is rare in this world.

Family, friends, and coworkers have rallied around us in a raucous and loving web that will not let us fail on the path that lies ahead.

Emotionally, spiritually, financially Ð our community has built a shelter for us in an unexpected storm. In doing so, they’ve demonstrated what it means to be Yukoners and confirmed for us our home here. In a place where so many live far from family, neighbours and acquaintances take on roles that are otherwise reserved for blood.

From monetary donations to words and thoughts of support to logistical tasks, many of you reading this have offered us something at a time of real need, expecting nothing in return except our success in overcoming this obstacle.

All we can say is thank you. And we will overcome it. With so much spirit around us, there is just no way we can go wrong.

There are too many individuals that need to be thanked personally to list here, but to all of you who have put special efforts into organizing events, taken care of our Whitehorse lives and offered particularly generous means of support: know that you have made an impact on us that we will never forget and that because of you we will never look at the world in the same way again.

It’s a far more giving place than we ever imagined.

With all of our gratitude and love,

Mark and Meghan Callan

Vancouver