Moving on from Tragedy

Hi, my name is Michael and I'm fundraising for my niece Doreen and her very young family, who recently experienced a lifetime tragedy.

In 2018, Doreen, a young modern woman who worked in banking, and Rob, an older rugged tradesman, fell in love and subsequently married. Two years later, during the Covid pandemic, they moved to rural Saskatchewan where Rob continued his career as a fiber optic technician; the move being made because it was safer there during Covid, and more economical due to the lower cost of living.

Robbie was born in 2020, and his younger sister, Isabelle, three years later. They couldn’t have been happier.

Rob, however, had not been feeling well. He at first chalked this up to overwork, but eventually had to seek medical care. He was advised then that he had a diseased liver, and that he had to take a break from work. His condition worsened, and soon he had to stop work entirely. On March 18, Rob passed away at the age of forty-seven, leaving Doreen, thirty-three, with Robbie, three, and Isabelle, four months old.

With a sick husband, a toddler, and an infant at home, Doreen had been fully occupied as a caregiver and could not work outside the home. What savings they had prior to Rob’s illness were quickly consumed by medical expenses, transportation to and from hospitals, and related expenses. When Rob passed away, end-of-life expenses were added to these.

Doreen has been well supported by her community and the Indigenous diaspora. Her immediate family, however, has only been able to provide limited assistance; she had no siblings, her father passed away 16 years ago, and her mother is retired and living on a pension in Toronto. Compounding all of this, Rob could not be life insured due to a pre-existing medical condition.

Doreen is smart, energetic, and very strong and committed to ensuring that her children are able to develop, grow and blossom as she and Rob intended them to. With her extended family, friends and community she intends to get back on her feet quickly and move forward. This could involve returning to work or school in Saskatchewan, which she loves, or returning to Ontario, where her and Rob’s extended families live. The exact path has yet to be determined but will definitely include maintaining contact with Rob’s family in Ontario; she’s absolutely committed to having their children grow up fully aware of their Ojibwe heritage.

This past week, in accordance with Ojibwe custom, Doreen, her young family and her friends and neighbours, maintained four days of fire for Rob. During this period, some of Robs favourite things were burned to join him in the afterlife, including some of his favourite clothes, a favourite meal prepared by Doreen, and popcorn, requested by Robbie for Daddy.

This week, Doreen begins to restart her life, now as a single parent with two young children. Whichever avenue she pursues, financial support will be essential to help her reestablish her family on a new and secure footing. Because she lives in a remote rural community, her most pressing need is to retain her car, which will shortly require $5000 in payments.