Community members are rallying together in support of Shawna Weinstein, a single mother who is recovering from heart surgery last week.
Weinstein is a single mom living in Richmod Hill. Her daughter Layla is currently staying with Weinstein's sister Merissa Badali, who lives in Innisfil.
It was last Friday when Weinstein all of a sudden didn't feel well. She was in pain and couldn't move her leg. She called a friend over to watch Layla while she rested. When the friend arrived, they immediately called 9-1-1 due to the amount of pain and distress Weinstein was in.
She was taken to hospital where it was learned she had a tear in the aortic valve in the heart and that she required immediate lifesaving heart surgery.
She was rushed to Sunnybrook Hospital via Ornge ambulance for surgery and is currently in stable condition, but has a long road of recovery ahead.
"The doctors at Sunnybrook have been amazing and positive," said Badali. "From what we understand, people don't normally make it in transport to hospital when this happens, so she's lucky to be alive."
Weinstein's best friend of 25 years, Trisha Robertson has started a Go Fund Me Page to raise money to help with the costs of recovery. Almost $12,000 has been raised of the $25,000 goal.
Weinstein is a customer service representative.
"She's a very hard worker and will put in more hours than the average person," said Badali. "Trish and I didn't want her to feel pressure to go back to work sooner than her body is ready for, so that's why the Go Fund Me was put in place."
Other members of the Innisfil community have also stepped up to offer their support.
Badali's neighbour, Patricia Polimena-Mariani, and her family have known Weinstein and Layla for the past 11 years.
Last week, her son Liam wanted to do something to help raise money for the cause and set up his own lemonade stand.
"When I came home and saw him doing that for my sister, it was pretty overwhelming," said Badali. "The people on this street and my neighbours are amazing human beings, I am really lucky."
"My son just wanted to raise some money either for the Go Fund Me or for her (Weinstein's) daughter to help out with anything that she needs," said Polimena-Mariani.
Liam hopes to be out more this week to sell more lemonade for the cause.
It's been hard on Layla not being able to see or speak to her mother for the past week.
"My sister and her daughter, they are the best of friends," said Badali. "They are each other's world."
Badali has lived in Innisfil since 2007.
Although Weinstein and Layla don't live in Innisfil, Badali is touched by the way the community has stepped up to help her family.
"This community is a blessing and it's really quite astounding because I think the day in age we live in, it's really not expected to have a community that sticks together and neighbours know each other to the extent that they do and are as supportive as they are, and I couldn't be more grateful," said Badali.
