No matter how John came into your life, I think there's something those of us who know him can all agree on:

John would give the shirt off his back to anyone if he thought it would help.

Some people have known John since his Pizza Pizza days, when he was still in his early twenties. Others came to know him through Clear Case Computers, the business he and Dave took over in 2004 and spent more than 20 years building into a trusted part of the Muskoka community.

When they started, Clear Case was one of several computer shops in town and had inherited a poor reputation from its previous owner. There were days when nobody came through the doors. John and Dave worked second jobs to make ends meet while they slowly earned the community's trust. They ran an internet café from the back of the store, did video production on the side, and took whatever opportunities they could while they built the business.

Their philosophy was simple: work hard, be honest with people, and don't sell somebody something they don't need.

Twenty-plus years later, Clear Case was the one that remained.

But somewhere along the way, John built something much bigger than a successful computer business.

He built relationships.

Over the years, John has worked behind the scenes in businesses throughout Muskoka and beyond. He's set up networks and point-of-sale systems, maintained business technology, and made countless service calls to businesses, homes and cottages. He's helped people navigate an industry that changed enormously over those two-plus decades, and somehow John always seemed able to learn whatever new thing was put in front of him.

But with John, a relationship that started with business has a funny way of becoming something more.

Customers became familiar faces, and familiar faces became friends. John got to know people's families. He knew their dogs, and they knew his.

People stopped by the store with coffee, cookies, maple syrup and even freshly caught fish. Customers helped renovate the store and build things for it. Relationships that started with a broken computer often lasted for years.

And then, of course, there were the dogs.

Hokie and Dexter became fixtures at Clear Case and were loved by far more people than just their family. When they inevitably took their journey over the “rainbow bridge”, the community mourned them too.

Today, Trooper and Ember have carried on the tradition, and there are undoubtedly people in Muskoka who first came to know John simply because they stopped to say hello to one of his dogs.

That's why it's almost impossible to answer the question, "How do you know John?"

Maybe he looked after your business. Maybe he came to your home or cottage. Maybe you remember him from Pizza Pizza. Maybe you met him walking the dogs. Maybe you originally knew him as the guy who fixed your computer and somewhere along the way simply started calling him your friend.

However your paths crossed, if you know John, I probably don't need to explain what kind of person my brother is.

You already know.

John is the person who shows up.

For our family, he has always been our rock. He's the one we call when something goes wrong. He's the problem-solver, the backup plan, the person who somehow figures out what needs to happen next and makes it happen and I know he's that person for many of you as well.

Then, at the beginning of September, everything changed.

John became critically ill and was rushed to Toronto Western Hospital. Doctors discovered multiple abscesses in his brain caused by a severe infection. He required emergency brain surgery and has remained in critical care as doctors work to control the infection and understand the extent of the damage it has caused.

Our family was thrown overnight into a future none of us could have anticipated.

Clear Case had to close indefinitely without the opportunity to prepare. We don't know yet exactly what John's recovery will look like, how long it will take, or what kind of support he may need in the months ahead.

What we do know is that this isn't going to be a short journey.

Our family has been travelling repeatedly between Muskoka and Toronto to be with John while also trying to keep everything at home going and begin preparing for whatever his recovery may require. Transportation, fuel, train fares, parking, meals, accommodations when they're necessary, and all of the other expenses that come with a prolonged medical crisis add up incredibly quickly.

And for the first time in our lives, the person who would normally swoop in and help us figure all of this out is the person we're trying to take care of.

So I'm trying to pick up where my big brother left off.

And part of doing that means doing something that is incredibly uncomfortable for me: I'm asking for help.

I know that I'm asking at a time when so many people are struggling themselves. Groceries, housing, gas and practically everything else cost more than it used to. I don't want anyone putting themselves in a difficult position in order to help us, and I don't want anyone who can't donate to feel badly about that for even a second.

But our family can't predict how long this road will be, and we need help staying afloat while we remain beside John and prepare for his eventual recovery.

Since this happened, something extraordinary has already shown us just how many lives John has touched.

People have shown up.

We've received messages from people from completely different chapters of John's life. People have offered rides, food, places to stay and anything else they could think of. Some of the people who have helped our family barely knew us before this happened.

They knew John.

And because they knew John, they showed up for his family.

For everyone who has contacted us asking, "What can I do?", this fundraiser is an answer.

Funds raised will help our family with the costs surrounding John's hospitalization and recovery: travelling between Muskoka and Toronto, transportation, parking, meals and accommodations when needed, keeping things going at home, and preparing for the long and uncertain road ahead as John's needs become clearer.

If you're able to contribute, no amount is too small. If you aren't able to donate, please share this instead. Somewhere in your circle may be another person whose life crossed John's over the last 20-plus years.

More than two decades ago, John and Dave took a struggling little computer shop and built it through hard work, honesty, word of mouth and the trust of this community.

But looking at the people surrounding us now, I think they built something even more important along the way.

They built a community.

John has spent most of his life being the person who shows up when somebody needs him.

Now, for once, John doesn't get to put himself last.

It's our turn to show up for him.

From our entire family, thank you for every donation, share, message, ride, meal and act of kindness you've already given us.

We see it.

And someday, when he's able to, we want John to see just how many people showed up for him too.