Community rallies around family of Pictou teen struck by vehicle
When Jaiden Holly heard that her friend Sindi Lee’s 14-year-old son, Caden Landry, had been struck by a vehicle in Pictou on Monday, she knew she had to find a way to help.
“Sindi is one of the most selfless caring people in the world,” Holly said. “She has helped me out time and time again.
“She’s the type of person who would give the shirt off her back for you.”
Caden was walking to a store in Pictou around 8:45 p.m. on Feb. 7 when he was struck by a vehicle. The Pictou district RCMP say they are investigating what happened.
He was transported to the IWK in Halifax, where he is in the pediatric intensive care unit. He has a traumatic brain injury and is on a ventilator to assist with his breathing.
When Holly received a group chat message from Lee letting her know about the accident, she immediately began thinking of how she could help.
“When this happened we knew we had to do something for them,” Holly said. “What we could do was spread the story, get prayers, share donations.”
Holly started a GoFundMe and others have organized other fundraisers.
By Sunday, Feb. 13, the GoFundMe had exceeded $9,000.
“We’re just so grateful and so blown away,” Holly said. “The care and the amount of people that are rallying around this family makes me want to cry. They need this right now.”
While things are looking a little more hopeful now than they did when he was first hospitalized, Holly said Caden is in for a long road to recovery. She hopes that the funds raised will help the family focus on Caden’s recovery and take away any other concerns.
Lee has already had her share of struggles to deal with as a mother. In 2017, her infant daughter, Maci, was diagnosed with a heart problem and had to be sent to Toronto for surgery.
Anyone who would like to make a donation can do so at www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-cadens-family.