On the Friday before Canada Day, the Little St. Lawrence couple’s five-year-old daughter, Rebekah, was rushed to the Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre and later airlifted to the Janeway Children’s Hospital in St. John’s.
There, the little girl had emergency brain surgery for a bleed on her brain the following morning.
According to information provided by Mrs. Winsor, June 29 began as a pretty normal family day.
Although Rebekah complained of a headache in the morning, it seemed to go away after she took a Tylenol. Following McDonald’s for lunch, the family, which also includes two boys and another girl, went to get fitted for their soccer jerseys and then headed to the grocery store.
Upon returning home, Rebekah and her brother, Christopher, stayed outside to play. Shortly after, she came in complaining the headache was back. After falling asleep, she woke up crying in pain.
The normal day all turned to a twister for the family from there.
As of Friday, Rebekah remained in very critical condition in a medically induced coma.
Her parents were told she would stay that way at least until later this week.
As Newfoundland communities are known to do in times of distress, an effort began immediately to support the Winsors as they remain in St. John’s with their daughter.
According to Lucy Kelly, a close family friend, the response has been amazing.
Within days of the incident, a Facebook group, ‘Prayers for Rebekah’, had more than 2,000 members, with Mrs. Winsor giving regular updates.
“It’s just flooded all over Facebook. The amount of prayers that are coming for this child is amazing. It’s nice to see a community pull together.”
“It’s just flooded all over Facebook. The amount of prayers that are coming for this child is amazing. It’s nice to see a community pull together.” - – Lucy Kelly
Ms. Kelly said a number of fundraising events are scheduled or in the works.
Firmed up dates include a card game at the Little St. Lawrence Community Centre tomorrow, Wednesday, and a ‘Night with Dean Pike’, doubling as an open mic, Thursday evening at the Trophy Lounge.
A penny auction has also been tentatively scheduled for Saturday, July 14.
Ms. Kelly has also set up an account at Scotiabank for anyone who wished to contribute. For more information, you can contact her at (709) 276-1075, or her mother, Peggy Kelly, at (709) 873-3191.
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