Oakvillian, your posts just completely blow me away. Mr S and I read your post together last night. We both chuckled and smiled at your younger son's comment, something so sweet and innocent and just beautiful about it. It's exactly correct too.

Rosie is so lucky to have such support, love, and positivity around her. It's fantastic that she got to see her friends talking about her on television. I'm also glad that you were pleased with how the news story was presented as well, that is always a worry, but I agree, it was very well done.

Please post updates when you can. Obviously things are very busy, but we appreciate knowing what's going on and, of course, what else we can do to help!

Sending so much love to all of you.

xxxxx

Doug I am totally in awe of how you and your family are handling this extremely difficult situation. My mum used to say I have a 'swinging brick' for a heart...and it's true...but every time I read an update...I find myself reaching for the tissues.

Big hugs to all of you.

Don't frequent BE much at all these days, so I was stunned to read this devastating news. I too have been accused on many occasions of having a swinging brick for a heart. However this has definitely affected my brick.

Oakvillian please accept our heartfelt sympathies for your daughter and of course you and your family.

I've just seen this thread as well. This was (and still is) my exact reaction.

Oakvillian, I sincerely hope that Rosie's prognosis and recovery is the best it can possibly be.

Nice donation from Sheridan College.

Bumpity bump bump bump

Over 36k now. Some wallets being opened big-time!

What's equally - no, actually more - impressive is the fundraising through the bakesale & other community initiatives. $19k on cakes alone!

I'm actually not surprised. I think dbd33 and myself have known Doug in person longer than anyone on BE (HGerchikov?). He came over on an ICT but after 2 years or so he was "let go" from the Canadian branch in a spate of reorganisation and downsizing.

A lot of people would have just returned to the UK, but the Long family had already put down deep roots in Oakville and together decided to see it out. I hope I'm not stepping over a line here, but it took a considerable while for Doug to find a job at his level again and in the meantime he invested time in volunteer positions in Oakville while networking in the employment sphere as well.

His commitment to the Community is undoubtedly reflected in the remarkable success of local fundraising on Rosie's behalf.

The whole family deserves kudos in the extreme.

I keep meaning to do a search to find it but he posted a really good guide to how to get a job through networking....

about how you make contacts and take them to coffee and develop the relationship over months or even years.

I've only met him in person a couple of times but he is the epitome of a "thoroughly nice bloke" and I'm sure he's known in the community as such

The kids played a blinder. Letting people know in advance what was in the cakes, particularly the brownies, was a masterpiece!

Now you have made me think about when I met Doug. I think most likely 2012, I know we had met by 2013 because I pulled up at a house to show it to some clients and Doug was in the yard of the house next door cutting his grass. If the rest of the family are even half as nice as he is, it's no surprise that the community has pulled together to help.

I sent you a PM with my best estimate of my first meeting with Doug.

My, how things have changed since then.

2008, 2009, for me, I'd guess.