Giving Tuesday: How Uncle Lloyd Inspired My Ordinary Hero
On this Giving Tuesday, I wanted to share a personal story.
Last December, I lost my Uncle Lloyd. Lloyd was not my uncle by blood, but was my father’s best friend for 62 years. Lloyd and his wife Micheline did not have any children, so my brothers and I were often treated like theirs. Every second summer, we drove to Ottawa to stay with them in the big city. Uncle Lloyd worked at the Canadian Hospital Association, but in his spare time, he was quite the chef. He would often have dinner parties with elaborate meals - lobster, fondue, cornish hens, Baked Alaska, his famous brownies. One of the reasons I went to Ottawa for university was to be closer to them (and the home cooked meals didn’t hurt). When I would visit on weekends, Micheline would draw me a bath in their jacuzzi and bring me a tray of chips. They were quite simply, angels.
In our younger years (L-R: Me, Dad, Uncle Lloyd and Micheline)
When Micheline passed away in 2007, we were all devastated. I hated knowing that Lloyd was living alone. After retiring early to take care of Micheline, he didn’t have a job to go back to so he started taking violin lessons - a lifelong dream - and volunteering at the Ottawa Mission. Many holidays he spent carving turkey and serving the people who relied on their meals. He had found a purpose and a second home.
Lloyd in the Ottawa Mission’s newsletter and poster campaign.
A few years ago, Uncle Lloyd was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. It progressed and he had to move to a seniors residence and could no longer volunteer at the Mission, which I know hurt his soul. After an incident in August 2022, he was transferred to the hospital and then a rehab facility to gain more strength. His only wish was to be back home for Christmas. Sadly, he passed away two weeks before Christmas when his body could no longer sustain itself. I was able to make it to the hospital in time. Something I will always be thankful for.
Christmas that year is a blur. When I wasn’t binge-watching HGTV, I turned to Instagram to pass the time. I noticed my former client (and coincidentally HGTV Canada host Kortney Wilson) was heading to Ethiopia with an organization she supported, Ordinary Hero.
Once she started posting about Ethiopia, I was completely transfixed. Every morning I would wake up and check Kortney’s Instagram first thing. She was posting about the families she was meeting and needing sponsorships. One of her videos showed a mother, with four children, the oldest holding a bag of urine. He was nine and he had a catheter. For the last few years of Uncle Lloyd’s life, he also had a catheter, but how could this be for a nine year old?
The boy’s name is Yared and he had a severe urinary issue. He had to drop out of school because the catheter was too cumbersome. I couldn’t imagine. The team mentioned that there was an operation that could help him but the family couldn’t afford it. I messaged Kortney right away and told her I wanted to help. Something (maybe Uncle Lloyd) was telling me that I couldn’t sit by and watch this precious young boy not go to school or run around with his friends.
Yared in the hospital before one of his treatments.
After I sponsored Yared’s family, Ordinary Hero helped set him up with a specialist appointment and tests. A few months later, Yared was ready for his surgery. It was more complicated than they thought so he needed to heal and gain some weight before his second procedure. As of last month, he still had a small stint to help his kidneys get used to working on their own but soon enough, he would be completely functioning on his own!
As the months have gone on, I’ve become more interested in how Ordinary Hero supports their families. They have programs to help women start a business, for kids ageing out of the program, enabling children to go to private school and can even help families move. They also have a market where you can buy bedding, blankets, backpacks, umbrellas, shoes and more.
I’m working with them now on providing some of these additional supports for Yared and his family. It may sound strange, but I’m incredibly proud of this young man whom I do not know. He’s been through so much and I can see the incredible potential he has.
(L-R) Kalkidan, Yared and Hanna
Ordinary Hero has been absolutely amazing to work with. Any questions I’ve asked have been answered. I ask for a phone call to discuss an issue, and it’s arranged. Their founder, Kelly Putty - entrepreneur and mother of nine (!), who is absolutely amazing, has even sent me personal thank you notes. I know it can be hard to know who to trust in the non-profit space, but I’ve had absolutely no issues trusting Ordinary Hero.
I tell this story as a reminder that something tragic like losing Uncle Lloyd can be used as inspiration to do something good. When I told my parents the story about Yared, my father cried. He told me how proud he was and that Lloyd would be as well. “A continuation of his good work,” he said.
On this Giving Tuesday, I encourage you to find some way to Give. Money is always helpful, but sharing a message on social media, volunteering your time or expertise also has such incredible value. Find something you’re passionate about and run with it. Without Kortney posting on Instagram, I would have never found Yared or Ordinary Hero.
For me, I’m planning on visiting Ethiopia with Ordinary Hero this summer. To fulfil a lifelong dream of visiting Africa but now, even more so, visiting Yared. I have a feeling Uncle Lloyd may come along as well.
Doary family photos always included Uncle Lloyd.