Soliciting your support for our good friend Carlo

Saluti, I, Peggy C, with a few other friends have created a fundraising page to support our good friend Carlo & family. Let me tell you why.

Our handsome, gracious, charming, jovial friend and former colleague Carlo, was afflicted by a stroke this past January 7th.

After complaining of numbness and not being well, emergency services were called and he was taken to the Jewish General Hospital, only to be redirected to the Montreal Neurological Institute Hospital. Here, is where he spent the better part of 5 weeks as a patient in the intensive care unit. He is now at the Jewish General in ICU.

Carlo is unable to articulate so he and Maria have devised a system to communicate by drilling through the alphabet and spelling out words. Carlo has become very dependent on Maria and seeks her presence at all times.

Maria is adept at sporting several hats at any given time, and is now his devoted caregiver, cheerleader, communicator, and companion. Her daily presence at the hospital, come hell or high water, are comforting to Carlo. She is by his side leaving the house at 5 am in the morning and getting home around midnight. Although Maria does drive, due to the short nights, long days and exorbitant parking prices, Maria has opted for Uber rides and the odd hotel overnight. All this entails expenses which are adding up.

Albeit the Uber rides are lonely and impersonal, to and from the hospital, and the occasional overnight at a nearby hotel, to either freshen up or get some much-needed sleep, Maria, contemplates those moments of solitude, as she reflects; curses; and focuses on gathering inner strength to face another day and conquer this battle to return her Carlo home.

They are surrounded with love, thoughts and prayers. The occasional homemade meal is dropped off at the hospital, numerous offers to drive or “what can I do?”, have been voiced. As well there have been several requests to visit, however only a very few have been privileged a visit. It is not for a lack of acknowledgment or to ignore requests, but simply, overwhelmed by the circumstances, learning to cope with this new reality, Maria is in automatic mode, with her sole focus being Carlos’s wellbeing.

A “Gofundme” page has been created to solicit a donation in order to help cover expenses, be it lodging near the hospital or travel and meal expenses.

Ideally, Maria is looking to rent close to the hospital in order to maximize her time.

Our objective is to raise $10,000.00 to cover the next 3 months expenses.

Any amount, be it $5, $10, or more will be graciously appreciated and accepted.

Both Carlo and Maria have a long and arduous journey ahead, our objective is to lighten the load, clear the path and support them as they meet their daily challenges.

Together, we are a force of love, resolute in achieving our goal and defiant to surrender.

It will be a long road to recovery, but in unison,

WE’VE GOT THIS!.