Hold Renae as she has held our dear friend, Alex

Sharing this isn't easy. As friends of both Alex and Renae, we are finally disclosing the shock, confusion and heartache felt in our tight-knit community for the past 26 months in order to seek support.

As many already know, more than 2 years ago, in August 2022, our dear friend Alex ended up in the hospital while in Toronto, gravely ill, in a medically-induced coma, battling West Nile virus and lymphoma. Since that time he remained there in a “locked-in state,” essentially unable to move or speak, but eventually becoming conscious and aware of his surroundings until Wednesday, October 9 at 5:55pm when he took his last breath.

During this entire time, Renae has been at his side, almost daily, acting selflessly as his advocate, caregiver, and friend. She has done everything from comforting Alex, to keeping him company, constantly talking to him, cutting his nails, rubbing his feet and working with him to try to regain his mobility and life. She has been an essential line of communication for all of us who were unable to be there in person, providing updates, playing recorded messages for Alex, and facilitating video chats from loved ones around the world. She has been essential.

All the while though, she has been commuting from Montreal, where she has an apartment and a life, staying in Toronto for months at a time, to be next to Alex for whatever he has needed. Renae has been simultaneously managing her own serious health issues throughout this time. She has sacrificed so much these last 2+ years to do the quiet, invisible, but deeply emotional and intense work of caring for our dear friend in his most trying times, and now, at the end of his beautiful life.

We are all so appreciative of what Renae has been doing and though there is no way to put a price on love and care, we can offer to help her financially in this difficult time when she’s barely been able to keep up with her personal expenses. Alex is fortunate to have his own financial needs taken care of, but that has not extended to Renae, unfortunately. We ask that if you can, please contribute to this fund to show her that we appreciate the time and energy she has given toward caregiving for our friend, and that she is held and cared for by all of the people who have known and loved Alex throughout his life.

Even if you did not get the chance to encounter the amazing human that Alex was in his prime, know that he was a gifted healer, entertainer, personal trainer and has always been a legend of a friend. Knowing that people could provide aid to Renae for her service to him would be a request that he would definitely make if he could. To honour his legacy would be to support Renae financially and help to clear the large debt she has accrued by remaining by his side for the past 26 months.

We are so grateful to Alex for leading a heart-centred and courageous life, and to Renae for not leaving him to face this hardship alone, and finally to you for giving what you can to help her in his honour.

RIP Alex and thank you to everyone able to help out during this difficult time.