Dear Editor:
It is 2012 and there is hope. It is found on page 11 of the North Shore News. Sometimes it announced as an afterthought on the afternoon news. And sometimes, if your lucky, if you are very lucky you just might find it in the most unlikely place.
My story is even stranger. I didn't find it as much as I was given a hope transplant. You see I had no hope. I was dead to hope.
Oh I once had hope. But then life happened - as it does. It happened right here where I was born and raised, attended school, had my first kiss, was married, fathered my children and built a business. And all of a sudden I had no hope. I didn't care - about anything.
So I did what you do when you are sick and need care; maybe even a transplant. I went to the hospital. Before it was named the "HOpe Centre" I walked into a hope centre.
They gave me medicine, they gave me loving care - those wonderful people did, and then they gave me a transplant. They gave me hope.
A little story to say thank you. Thank you to the Ho's for their amazing generosity, to our governments that are backing the new psychiatric ward construction at Lions Gate Hospital and of course to the wonderful men and women of my transplant team at LGH.
Finally, thank you to my neighbours. Thank you for supporting care for all types of illness including hopelessness and other forms of mental illness. Hope walks the streets of North Vancouver because of your love and compassion.
Rick Overes North Vancouver
