Helping the Riddles
Donation protected
My dear friend Mary was involved in a serious accident at the beginning of what was supposed to be a summer adventure across Canada with her husband and two young sons, Finn and Eli.
On a visit to Five Islands Lighthouse Park, she fell down the stairs of a lighthouse and was severely injured. Because the lighthouse is so narrow, she had to walk herself in a soft brace down the stairs and out, and after an initial wait for X-rays and scans in Truro she was transferred to QE2 hospital in Halifax.
She has a broken back and spine, and five broken ribs. She's currently awaiting surgery but has been waitlisted the past two days and is, from what I understand, in an extraordinary amount of pain and discomfort. Her team has finally managed to get her on a combination of meds that seems to be working. Her spinal cord is intact.
Right now surgery is likely to be Thursday 20th July, after which we will have more information on the next steps and the road to recovery as well as getting her home to Pittsburg.
We want to help lessen the burden on her lovely husband Justin and their two spirited boys. Because they are far from home they don't have their usual support network, but through the beauty of social media and some amazing Canadian strangers, we've been able to organise some practical help on the ground in Halifax but her journey to good health is likely to be long.
Anyone who knows Mary will tell you she is a warm, caring and wonderful soul who lives for her boys and showing them the world. Justin works as a teacher, and Mary homeschools their sons, so the aim of this is to alleviate as much financial burden and stress from them, so Justin is able to continue at his job but also so Mary is able to recover without the added stress this kind of accident can cause. Their more immediate needs are to help cover hotel, meal and travel costs which weren't factored into this trip.
If you are able to help in any way, please do. I will update on the situation and her condition as soon as we have more information.
We have a closed FB group set up for anyone offering practical help on the ground in Halifax or in Pittsburgh, which you can request to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RiddleFamilySupport/
Thank you for any support you are able to give this wonderful family.
On a visit to Five Islands Lighthouse Park, she fell down the stairs of a lighthouse and was severely injured. Because the lighthouse is so narrow, she had to walk herself in a soft brace down the stairs and out, and after an initial wait for X-rays and scans in Truro she was transferred to QE2 hospital in Halifax.
She has a broken back and spine, and five broken ribs. She's currently awaiting surgery but has been waitlisted the past two days and is, from what I understand, in an extraordinary amount of pain and discomfort. Her team has finally managed to get her on a combination of meds that seems to be working. Her spinal cord is intact.
Right now surgery is likely to be Thursday 20th July, after which we will have more information on the next steps and the road to recovery as well as getting her home to Pittsburg.
We want to help lessen the burden on her lovely husband Justin and their two spirited boys. Because they are far from home they don't have their usual support network, but through the beauty of social media and some amazing Canadian strangers, we've been able to organise some practical help on the ground in Halifax but her journey to good health is likely to be long.
Anyone who knows Mary will tell you she is a warm, caring and wonderful soul who lives for her boys and showing them the world. Justin works as a teacher, and Mary homeschools their sons, so the aim of this is to alleviate as much financial burden and stress from them, so Justin is able to continue at his job but also so Mary is able to recover without the added stress this kind of accident can cause. Their more immediate needs are to help cover hotel, meal and travel costs which weren't factored into this trip.
If you are able to help in any way, please do. I will update on the situation and her condition as soon as we have more information.
We have a closed FB group set up for anyone offering practical help on the ground in Halifax or in Pittsburgh, which you can request to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RiddleFamilySupport/
Thank you for any support you are able to give this wonderful family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Heather Snodgrass-Brine
Organizer
Pittsburgh, PA
Justin Riddle
Beneficiary
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