Community stands behind couple in crisis

BY NADINE ARMSTRONG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

The nightmare began last June when 30-year-old Mike Elliot awoke one morning to find he couldn't speak. He had suffered a stroke and doctors diagnosed him with MS.

From that day forward, life has been one big downward spiral for him and his family. After a series of tests including a brain biopsy, it became clear eventually that what Elliot had was an extremely rare form of cancer called lymphomatoid granulomatosis, which affects the blood vessels in the brain. He has suffered three more strokes since, which left him unable to walk for a time.

Treatment has been a plan of trial and error, says his wife Heather Hartt, as doctors attempt to work with the rare disease. To-date, the medications have made some difference.

“At one point our bathroom was just full of pill bottles,” Hartt said.

Now on the cancer treatment Interferon and a medication called Prednisone, Elliot is slowly taking back his life. “What was hard was when he lost his emotions because of the brain damage,” Hartt said. His emotions are back now, but it's a mixed blessing. “I wasn't scared then; now I am,” Elliot said.

However, today is a different day. Although the long-term prognosis is unknown Elliot can walk, and despite a lingering paralysis on his right side he wears a smile as he carries his six-month-old son Gavin upstairs to get ready for the day.

“I just have to deal with it,” he said. “I can't do anything about it.” Life goes on, he said.

However, it’s a very different life than his family had even a year ago as a professional couple living in Falmouth.

“We just lost everything,” said Heather, who was pregnant with Gavin at the time of her husband’s diagnosis. “He was put on disability the same day and I couldn't work anymore. I needed to be here for him.”

The family was forced to relocate to subsidized housing in Rawdon, uprooting their two teenage boys Gage and Lucas in the process, which Hart says was very difficult.

Community breaks through barrier of suffering

But as it turned out, Rawdon was ready for them. Since news of the family’s circumstances circulated, there has been an overwhelming show of support.

The person Hartt says spearheaded the campaign of friendship was Joanne McInnes. “She showed up at our door and just completely shocked us with her kindness and sensitivity and her willingness to do absolutely anything she can to help us and get the community involved.”

McInnes has quite a few fundraisers planned and although she has never fundraised for a family before, she takes it all in stride. “I’ve never done this before, but wow; I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. It’s just devastating.”

Prior to that the family had been trying to go it alone, shuffling Gavin along with them to weekly medical appointments and dealing with financial loss, which will only worsen when Elliot goes on long-term disability in May.

“I have a hard time taking,” Hartt said, “and there has been a lot of giving going on.”

Being new to the community, Hartt said they didn't expect to be embraced so quickly. “I just can't express how thankful we are to this community. The people have shown so much care and support that it's completely uplifted my spirit.”

‘This is how we help each other’

The couple still has moments, but draw on each other and their newfound friends for support. “The way I've coped is to just live everyday,” Heather says. “There are times when my mind drifts off into the future, but it’s not a happy place so I bring myself back.

“This is how we help each other,” she says as she draws her husband close. “When he gets upset, I'm here for him and he brings me up when I'm down.”

And the glue that cements this couple’s love, she said, is Gavin, “I don't know what we would do without him. He's such a wonderful baby.”

Right now the couple says they remain positive. “We feel so cared about. Every day I can wake up and smile because of something kind a person has done for us,” Heather said.

There will be a freewill dinner at the Centre Rawdon Hall Sunday, March 9 from 4-6 p.m. and a Jamboree April 12 at the Rawdon Gold Mines Hall. A bike rally and BBQ will be held at that hall as well June 21.

“I’m just tickled,” McInnes said. “I’m so very pleased with all of the communities that have taken part to help.”

Elliot’s mother Rosalie Metzler, who lives in Kentville, has opened a trust fund for the family.

Donations can be made to any Scotiabank branch at account number 30403-8934789.