This Is Us - The Vecchiolas

Terry on his birthday in June 2020

If you’ve ever heard the name Vecchiola, then you’ve met one of our relatives.  Our brother Terry, who lives in Port Coquitlam, BC, is in serious need of your help.  En route to an out-of-town jobsite in the boonies of BC, he hit a deer and rolled his van on October 11, 2020.  In a state of shock, he climbed out the window and went after the deer, thinking he could save its life; but it kept running further into the forest.  Out of breath and dead tired, Terry laid down to rest and fell asleep in the snow in sub zero cold, in no way dressed for the occasion.  By the time he awoke, his feet were frozen solid and he was afraid he would lose them. 

Meanwhile, his wife Norma was frantically begging the local RCMP to grab some dogs and go search for him.  Twenty-three hours later they called to say he'd been found alive and was on the way to the nearest hospital 3 hours away.  He's a tough nut our brother, and by some miracle the ER doctors were able to save his feet, but he had some internal injuries the small hospital couldn't diagnose or treat.  Once he was stabilized, they flew him to St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver two days later, where a team of cardiologists was standing by to treat him upon arrival.  And that’s where he’s been ever since, awaiting word on whether or not he will need open heart surgery.

This unforeseen event could not have come at a worse time.  With Terry flat on his back in the hospital, it was Norma's job to pack up all their worldly goods and vacate their mould-infested house; except that they not yet found a landing spot.  Talk about a run of bad luck.  It’s unlikely he'll ever work again, or at least not for a long time, so they are in dire need of funds to get them through this ordeal.  We realize times are tight for everybody right now, but if you could spare even a few dollars; no amount is too small.  There is strength in numbers and every penny counts, so please dig deep and help them out.  It’s all in the name of a whole lotta love.  We thank you very much.

Laura, Nick, Pat and Toni Vecchiola