It was an emotion-filled moment when Ida Guarascia met her “angels” last month at August Restaurant.
It was the first opportunity for Ida to meet the couple which has offered to donate the cost of her prosthetic procedures as she continues her recovery from cancer surgery earlier this year.
Eric Van Grootheest and his wife, Annette, visited the couple to talk about her ordeal and outline what her recovery will entail. Eric and Annette happened to see NewsNow’s feature on Ida’s ordeal in its July 10 edition when they visited town from Fergus.
Doctors have estimated her surgeries and prosthetics fitting could be in the $8,000 ballpark.
“This is such a huge relief off my shoulders I can’t tell you,” Ida told the Van Grootheests.
Although Ida repeatedly called them her angels, both Eric and Annette were quick to point out, their aid to Ida is really just them fulfilling what they believe is right.
“We’re Christians. This really has nothing to do with us. We are just the vehicle able to bring this help to you,” Annette told Ida.
“We are the lucky ones.”
“It’s true,” added Eric. “We’ve been blessed and we just want to bring that forward.”
With Ida off work indefinitely and her husband, Randy, off work with chronic back problems, donations to help the couple continue to come in.
All donations can be dropped off at NewsNow’s Grimsby office, 49 Main St. W. Office hours are 9-5, but donations can be dropped through the mail slot in the door.