Thanks to Edson, Alberta!

While my mom and Dad were on their great adventure with their new pop-up trailer, my Dad had some serious health issues. They were stopped in the Town of Edson on their way from Jasper to Edmonton when they decided to seek medical attention and Dad ended up staying in the Edson & District Hospital:

for a week. It was a long week for everyone; for Dad being so sick, for Mom, caring for him in unfamiliar territory and for the rest of us being so far away and not knowing how to help.

Thankfully, Dad received excellent care at the hospital and my Mom was really taken care of by the community of Edson, starting with the truly wonderful staff of the Super 8 Motel in Edson, her new home away from home! The staff were very helpful and caring even helping my Mom unhook the trailer so that she could drive around town without it attached to the car and then putting it back together for us when it was time to leave.

There was also a Catholic Church just across the street from the hospital, Sacred Heart:

The parish priest and pastoral minister were very kind to my Mom. The pastoral minister took my Mom out for coffee one morning, just for a chat, which was really nice. There was also the helpful book store lady, who my mom, being my mom, met on several occasions and who she found had a very good listening ear and friendly way.

It was so good for me to hear that there were so many helpful and supportive people surrounding my parents when they were in need of them. It made it just that little bit easier being so far away.

I did fly out to Edmonton and with the help of my good friend Giselle, get a ride out to Edson so that I could drive the folks back to Edmonton and then stay with her family

for a night before flying back to Toronto to be met by an ecstatic Faith and relieved Kevin who then drove us all the way to my parents home. In the meantime, my younger brother, Declan and his fiance Christie

flew from Vancouver to Edmonton and were met by Christie's brother until we arrived and then they drove the car and trailer all the way back to my parents home and my older brother, Alan, got in supplies and made doctor's appointments in readiness for when my parents got back at home.

It was a cast of many that helped return our family to normal including the people of Edson, my friends and Christie's brother in Edmonton, all our family and friends that kept us in their hearts and prayers and even ourselves, I guess. It is so good to know that not only can our family pull together to help each other out in times of need but that there are kind and helpful people out there in the world that are willing to lend a hand when it is needed. So often we hear of the stories when people are unwilling to help. This is not one of those stories. So, I say thank you to everyone that helped us along the way!

Trish