10 years ago I moved across the country for a job opportunity in Calgary. It was a big risk - I didn’t know anyone outside of some folks from this app whom I had never met in person.

I had a medical emergency a few weeks after moving - and one of those people saved my life.
His name was Tory and at the time I knew him only by his avatar and handle. But when I landed in Calgary he reached out via DM and offered me help and advice for getting to know my new city.

I told him I would take him up on that offer when I was more settled - but truthfully I was a bit leery about meeting a man I didn’t know in real life. So we exchanged messages here & there but did not meet up in person.

I was living in temporary housing - so I didn’t officially have an address or any real “roots” in the city. One day I came home and started feeling off. I was nauseous, sweaty and shaky. Before long I couldn’t stand up. Tory had texted to check in so I told him I was sick

He said it sounded like food poisoning and agreed to check in on me later that evening. I tried to go to bed but the symptoms kept getting worse. I had no idea where the nearest hospital was, no doctor to call, no friends or neighbours.

When Tory texted a few hours later… I was huddled in a ball on the bathroom floor barely able to read my messages. He suggested the hospital but I was scared and thought I could wait it out. So he asked to come over.

Somewhat reluctantly I gave him my address and crawled to the door to unlock it. He arrived not long after, took one look at me and said “we’re going to the hospital”. He practically carried me to his car while I embarrassingly protested

I was so worried I would puke on his seat and I remember he kindly said “I’ve got three kids - don’t you worry about a thing.” He got me to the hospital & into a wheelchair but before we got to triage I began projective vomiting so fiercely it knocked the wheelchair backwards

At triage I could barely tell them my name because I had become so woozy - and Tory only knew me by my handle! As they were attempting to get my emergency contact information I blacked out. I woke up in a trauma room with my shirt cut off & a flurry of activity around me

Truthfully I remember very little other than Tory - still there & warmly holding my hand - telling me I had to unlock my phone so the ‘nice people’ could figure out who I was and who to contact. He knew I was scared & tried to be a calm and grounding presence

Eventually they got me stabilized and once I was feeling better Tory told me he needed to leave to go to work. This kind man - whom I had not met before that night - stayed with me all night in the ER despite needing to work the next day.

I thanked him and he left - and to my surprise a few hours later his partner showed up with their new baby in tow. She had brought me a change of clothes and some personal care items. She kept me company for a few hours and said Tory would come back after work

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#Disability #disabilitycrowdfund #chronicillness #kindness #MutualAid #MutualAidRequest #CovidIsNotOver #CovidCautious #Friendship #CommunityCare #kindnessofstrangers