When we come from a small town, we know everything about everyone. Details of their lives that we shouldn't be privy to as simple acquaintances — or even strangers:

But what we don't know or often stop to think about is how it feels and everything it impacts in that person's life. How those events aren't just 'talk-of-the-town' but life events that come and shake up a whole ecosystem of family, finances and feelings.

>> This past summer, my sister (Véronique Charron) was diagnosed with stage 2b Nodular Sclerosis Hodgkins Lymphoma. Cancer. "I'm sorry I didn't notice you were so sick ...I should've been more present," were the first words out of my mouth. But she hadn't known either. Within less than a month, I was sitting next to her at Sensenbrenner Hospital, in my hometown of Kapuskasing, Ont. seeing my big sis get a whole syringe of red chemo — 'affectionately' called Red Devil (wtf?!) — pushed through her vein, followed by a slew of other chemical bags. These 5 hours were the start of a heavy journey of hospital runs, at-home care and now, hair loss.

You might see my sister around town, running errands or maybe treating herself to a (rare) social moment with friends or colleagues, but what you don't see is:

These aren't to be dramatic. They're to be real. I know — it's my default mechanism to push through and pretend things aren't as heart wrenching as they really are. But they are. It's sad, and it sucks. While I get to enjoy a sunny & healthy walk along the beach of Costa Rica, my sister can barely stand up in her kitchen from all the nausea. While your kids come home with the seasonal flu and you have to coordinate a babysitter, my sister has to be admitted to the hospital because her immune system might not be able to fight it off. And while we all have bad days when we feel a little less like ourselves, my sister has been dealt cards that make it so that those days are the norm, not the exception.

I know she isn't the only one going through something tough, and this isn't a question of special treatment. I see it as simple as a little communal love to get someone feeling a little happier, a little prettier, a little more alive. A little light through the storm ✨

Your matcha or coffee budget for the week could help her:

So what do you say? Let's come together and show my sister some love:))

xo,

Mélo

P.S. If you can't financially donate but would love to show your support in another way, please reach out directly to myself, Véro or anyone in the family that you feel comfortable to.