‘Miracle’ reunion
Charlottetown woman dying of cancer says being reunited with her family one last time was experience of a lifetime
A 55-year-old Charlottetown woman who has only months to live says being reunited with her family recently was the most profound, loving experience of her entire life.
Margaret Ross moved to Nanaimo, B.C., in the spring so she could live closer to one of her sons and his family.
However, shortly after arriving she was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer that has spread to her brain and leg.
Her dying wish was to see her other three sons and a grandson, who live on the East Coast, one more time to say a final goodbye and to make some special memories.
The entire family spent Aug. 26-31 together in Nanaimo.
“We talked about everything,’’ Ross told The Guardian.
“We talked about their future, about legacies; we talked about love. We did a massive amount of reminiscing and it brought back beautiful memories and feelings of those memories came to surface.
“It was incredible, the entire week was the most profound, powerful, loving week I have ever put in. There’s just no words to explain it. This miracle that all these people made happen makes it even better.’’
The miracle she refers to started with her friend, Rose Barbour, on P.E.I., who jumped into action to help make the reunion possible. She set up a GoFundMe campaign to help raise money for two of the plane tickets.
An anonymous donor stepped in and paid for a third ticket, and a national organization called Give A Mile took care of the fourth ticket. Give A Mile’s goal is to give families the gift of a final goodbye. It uses donated Aeroplan miles or cash donations to purchase plane tickets quickly and bring people together.
Ross said they tried to keep the reunion as low-key as possible.
They had suppers together, visited a quirky vintage store, shopped at bookstores, had coffee and went to restaurants.
“But the best and most we got enjoyment from was just being together, just sitting at (my son) Andrew’s place or at my place and just being together. Sitting next to my son, just chatting up instead of having to text message all the time, having my grandson snuggle up to me and just talk. I was able to give him pointers for the future. That’s such a gift.’’
Ross said they spent one hour talking about her cancer, about further treatment and decided, as a family, not to go ahead with any more treatment.
“I want quality, not quantity, so my boys were able to help me with that, and we came to an understanding and a decision.’’
She said they were able to cry and hold each other and then it was done.
“The rest of the visit had nothing to do with cancer. We would not allow it to enter into the rest of the week, (and) it was awesome. I truly didn’t think my family could get closer but, you know what, we sure have.’’