We're a pretty blasé bunch around this office. Along with most of our ilk we look at the world with jaded eyes. But every once in a while a week comes along when we're forced to change our grey outlook. This past week was just such a week. It began with a church service where an obviously relieved father announced his daughter's accident two weeks prior in Tanzania was not as serious as once feared.
Lynda Kearns, a local woman who went to Tanzania to create a home for homeless children, had been in motor vehicle crash. When she failed to heal the local doctor arranged for Kearns to go to Cape Town, South Africa to see a top specialist. She was alone and sick in a strange land, so Kearns' local minister, Janice Young of St. John's United Church searched for a way to bring solace to the woman. In a flash of inspiration she sent an email to a powerful church figure in Africa. And wonder of wonders, on Wednesday, Sept. 15, Archbishop Desmond Tutu paid a personal visit, complete with a huge bouquet of flowers to Kearns. Added to the upbeat prognosis for Kearns it was a magical week.
Next in this week was a visit by the Cops for Cancer and a dinner hosted by the Sunshine Coast Rotary Club. For one Rotary member and his wife it was a time to reflect on their little grandson who passed away from cancer a year and a half ago. Bob and Kay Metcalfe still miss their little guy. It shows in the sadness in his grandma's eyes and the concern on his grandpa's face.
But out of sad times come stories of inspiration too.
Kay shared just such a story. Ryan, the Metcalfes' grandson was an avid Shania Twain fan. When a nurse at the Prince George hospital found this out she contacted Twain. Soon Ryan was the recipient of a large box of Shania Twain products. And the star herself phoned the boy. His only question-"What's your dog's name?" It seems the singer had sent a family picture including the dog. And finally at that same meeting, a Canadian Cancer Society employee, Rita Wong told us of the visit by the ex-coach of the Vancouver Canucks with his son to Canuck Place this past summer. The son remarked on some of the changes made since his last visit. It seems the usually taciturn coach has a soft spot for sick kids. For Wong who lost her own sister this past Christmas to nose and throat cancer, it helped to know others care.
Inspiration, it finds you where you least expect it.
