Pic'ing up for the Wynne

Eric Wynne is a photojournalist for the Chronicle Herald in Halifax, Nova Scotia. As you may know, 61 members of the Halifax Typographical Union's newsroom unit, including Eric, have been on strike since Jan. 23 after a fair contract deal was not reached with the Chronicle Herald.
On April 19 Eric suffered a stroke, which his neurologist has termed Wallenberg Syndrome.
It has left him with numbness to the left side of his face, an impaired voice and swallowing, impaired inner ear and sense of balance and double vision.
Everyone who knows Eric personally or through his work comments on his positive attitude,  dedicated work ethic, community involvement and his giving nature.
What they may not know is the Wynne family has had more than their fair share of challenges in the last two years.
In 2014 Eric renovated his house to accommodate his aging mother, Kay, who has medical issues, including sufferering a major heart attack, and a massive stroke after a double bypass six years ago.
His wife Kathleen is currently ending a three-month clean-up chemo regiment after being diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer last May. She has been unable to work since her diagnosis due to the aggressive treatments.
Although the doctor's prognosis is good for Eric, thanks to his overall health, the doctors have been unable to provide him with a level of recovery or time frame in which those goals will be met.
Currently Eric requires a walker to get around.
Being the only driver in his house is limiting as he doesn't know when, or if, he will be able to get back behind the wheel.
His two children, a son, who is in third year university and daughter, who is in her first year of college, not only have a full caseload but also are working part-time to put themselves through school.
Eric has never been one to moan about these challenges, he takes each one in stride, but with the stroke taking away his ability to care for his family, it's time for us, his friends and colleagues to return the good deeds, helping hand and emotional support he has always offered to anyone in need.
Even those who weren't aware they needed a hand, hug or a smile.
We're trying to raise a couple extra dollars to cover any transportation costs for appointments Eric, Kathleen or Kay might need while he recovers from his stroke.
It would also be nice if we could get a little something extra in the pot so they have some breathing room.
It doesn't matter if you can give a little or a lot, every bit will help, not just financially, but emotionally.
These are tough times in the news industry. Eric and his colleagues are taking a stand for something that affects us all, and clearly it's taken its toll on Eric.