'It broke my heart': Group donates meals to families isolating in children's cancer ward
A support group for families battling childhood cancer is helping parents and caregivers stuck self-isolating in hospital.
Parents and guardians of eight to ten children were forced to self-isolate for 12 days after a COVID-19 outbreak was declared in the children's hospital cancer ward.
While kids are still provided meals, the parents only get a bagged lunch and aren't allowed to go down to the cafeteria.
That's why Candlelighters, a childhood cancer support group, sprung into action to help supply them with dinner.
"It broke my heart to think that their families would have to be scrambling," said Naomi Fehr, Candlelighters' board chair. "So the fear of having a child with cancer - newly diagnosed, recently diagnosed - is scary enough. Never mind having to have the scare of COVID-19 on top of that."
Fehr said the group was first contacted by a mother in the ward.
Since putting out a call for help on Thursday, the group has received over $14,000 in donations and countless offers of support.
"We have received so much help. Like people offering to help, restaurants have been reaching out," said Fehr.
"I have complete strangers that are contacting me and saying, 'We're raising funds, we've got X number of days paid for.' It's just been unbelievable."
Fehr says meals for the families are covered for the next few weeks, and the group is working on a plan to buy a couple of dinners a week well into the future.
More information on the group can be found on Candlelighters' website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.