The phone started ringing right away at Gilles and Sherrel Comeau’s home after a story appeared in Saturday’s Advocate about a generator that was stolen from their home.
The Red Deer couple were upset when someone stole their new generator that Gilles needs to power his oxygen machine when they go camping.
The couple made a plea to whoever stole the generator from their garage last month to return it because replacing it is a hardship. Gilles, who has been battling throat cancer and other health issues, cannot work.
Sherrel said that some people have offered to replace the generator or give them one they have. The generator does need to be a certain size to run Gilles’ oxygen machine.
Sherrel said one woman who called said she had received some extra money from an inheritance and since she had no family she wanted to replace the generator.
“If she does that for us, we’ll include her in our family!” a happier sounding Sherrel said.
“It was very touching.”
Some people called just to wish the couple well and some people called to say they could help them.
Sherrel said she thinks their generator issue is now resolved.
The Comeaus, who do not have a big income and have had to meet the additional expenses associated with a critical illness such as travel and treatment, are extremely thankful to all the people who have helped them since Gilles was diagnosed about two years ago.
“When bad things happen, people seem to come out of nowhere to help their fellow man. It just warms my heart that people can be so giving,” Sherrel wrote in a thank you letter to the editor, which is in today’s Advocate (Page A4).
“Now, there are more people who are offering their well wishes and support after reading our story about the stolen generator. We are truly blessed to have such special people in our lives and if and when they might need our help, we will be there for them.”
barr@www.reddeeradvocate.com