Close X
Thursday, November 7, 2024
ADVT 
National

Terminally Ill Boy Who Galvanized An Ontario Town To Give Him An Early Christmas Dies

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 07 Dec, 2015 12:53 PM
    BRANTFORD, Ont. — A terminally ill Ontario boy whose wish for an early Christmas attracted a heartfelt outpouring of support has died.
     
    A statement posted on the Facebook page of the Stedman Community Hospice in Brantford says seven-year-old Evan Leversage died early Sunday morning, just a few weeks after his community put on a Christmas parade for the dying boy.
     
    "Evan died peacefully and pain free in his mom Nicole Wellwood's arms," said the statement.
     
    Evan, from the small Ontario community of St. George, suffered from an inoperable brain tumour.
     
    Doctors told the boy's family this year that they weren't sure if he would live to see this Christmas, so St. George put on an early Christmas parade in October, complete with artificial snow strewn around Evan's home.
     
    The boy got to hop onto Santa's sleigh and ride with him through the streets of St. George with thousands of townspeople looking on.
     
     
    Evan was admitted to the Stedman facility on Nov. 4 and his family had maintained a vigil at his bedside ever since.
     
    "One of Evan's favourite highlights during his stay at the hospice was the day that staff wheeled his bed into the family room so that he could direct the volunteer firefighters who were putting together the huge 12-foot Christmas tree," the statement said.
     
     

    Thank you to Evan's family for giving us the privilege of caring for this special little boy who has left an imprint on...

    Posted by Stedman Community Hospice on Sunday, 6 December 2015
    "Evan took great pride in telling them where to put each decoration on that tree and also enjoyed a special visit from Santa."
     
    The boy's story attracted international attention with people reaching out from as far away as Australia and the United Kingdom, among other places.
     
    "One of Evan's favourite things to do was to have his family read all the mail that he received from caring people around the world. The family was told by the St. George Post Office that Evan has received even more mail than letters to Santa," the statement said. 
     
    Social media was flooded with condolences Sunday.
     
    "RIP Evan Leversage. You did what most of us never will~ you brought a community together in love," one person posted. 
     
     
    The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada joined with his family earlier this year to launch a fundraising campaign to support research into childhood brain cancer.
     
    Funeral arrangements are to be finalized in the coming days.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Downtown Eastside Pharmacy Headed To B.C. Court In PharmaCare Fight

    Downtown Eastside Pharmacy Headed To B.C. Court In PharmaCare Fight
    An audit of the Eastside Pharmacy last year found billing discrepancies, and its enrolment in the provincial program that helps patients cover drug costs was expected to be cancelled today.

    Downtown Eastside Pharmacy Headed To B.C. Court In PharmaCare Fight

    Immigration Minister John McCallum Says 'Crazy' To Think Refugees Don't Want To Come To Canada

    Immigration Minister John McCallum Says 'Crazy' To Think Refugees Don't Want To Come To Canada
    McCallum just returned from visiting a refugee camp in Jordan, where he said there is "huge enthusiasm — a great hunger to come to Canada."

    Immigration Minister John McCallum Says 'Crazy' To Think Refugees Don't Want To Come To Canada

    Police In Newfoundland Investigating Anonymous 'Ugliest Girls' Poll

    Police In Newfoundland Investigating Anonymous 'Ugliest Girls' Poll
    Lynelle Cantwell, a student at Holy Trinity High School in Torbay, is getting national attention for her response to the creators of the online poll, called "Ugliest Girls in Grade 12."

    Police In Newfoundland Investigating Anonymous 'Ugliest Girls' Poll

    Vancouver Teenager, Toronto Engineer Honoured For Their Civic Engagement

    Vancouver Teenager, Toronto Engineer Honoured For Their Civic Engagement
    Hana Woldeyes says she can't fathom what pain Syrian refugees faced as they fled their country, but she's got an inkling of what the teenagers will go through as they try to settle into a new one.

    Vancouver Teenager, Toronto Engineer Honoured For Their Civic Engagement

    Supreme Court Rules That Class-action Lawsuit Against CIBC Can Proceed To Trial

    Supreme Court Rules That Class-action Lawsuit Against CIBC Can Proceed To Trial
    TORONTO — The Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed an appeal by CIBC, allowing a class-action lawsuit brought by shareholders against the bank to proceed to trial.

    Supreme Court Rules That Class-action Lawsuit Against CIBC Can Proceed To Trial

    Opening Of Canadian Parliament Reflects The Brutality Of Some Age-old Traditions

    Opening Of Canadian Parliament Reflects The Brutality Of Some Age-old Traditions
    OTTAWA — The opening of Parliament is ripe with traditions and symbolism that reach back in time to the beginnings of parliamentary democracy.

    Opening Of Canadian Parliament Reflects The Brutality Of Some Age-old Traditions