A Turner Valley mom is amazed at how her community banded together to help her through the most difficult time of her life.
Kira Perdue’s life was turned upside down when her husband, Turner Valley RCMP Const. Jeremy Perdue, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia last spring.
With five young children to care for and a 13-year-old van with 300,000 km and $8,000 worth of work needed, the stay at home mom didn’t know how she could manage the frequent trips to Calgary while raising her family on her own.
“I’m back and forth to the hospital almost every day, keeping up with homework and grocery shopping,” she said. “I was putting on almost 1,000 kilometres a week on our van. I’ve never been so weary in my life, but God has given me the strength to get out of bed some days.”
The moment word got out about Perdue’s dire situation, neighbours, friends and strangers stepped up and helped.
“When this all started I told one of my neighbours what was going on and she said right away, ‘Can I organize meals for you,’” she said. “My neighbourhood got together and filled my freezer with meals, the detachment did my babysitting and came in once a week when I was away and cleaned my house top to bottom.”
Perdue has since received gas cards, groceries, food hampers and money in a bank account opened in her husband’s name, allowing her to purchase a newer vehicle for her family.
“It’s been overwhelming,” she said. “My family has talked about how they’ve never seen this happen anywhere. To have a community come together and raise thousands of dollars so that you can buy a van, words can’t expressed how grateful we are and how loved we feel in this community. Thank you doesn’t cover it.”
After being diagnosed last May, Jeremy underwent three rounds of chemotherapy and spends more time in the hospital than at home.
“They said normally people with this type of leukemia are in their 70s,” she said. “My husband is 35. They said because he’s young and healthy and they caught it really early, his chances are pretty good.”
After receiving a bone marrow transplant last month, Jeremy is due to return home any day now.
“The doctors said he is doing better than expected,” she said. “They were talking about sending him home this week or next week, which is earlier than expected.”
Despite the good news, Perdue expects many trips to the hospital yet and had her sister move in to help out.
“Once he gets out of the hospital I will have to take him back two or three times a week for checkups and in a moment’s notice if anything goes wrong,” Perdue said. “The doctor said he probably couldn’t think about going back to work until next fall.”
Perdue is also busy keeping her children positive during such a scary time.
“They’re scared of what’s going to happen,” she said. “There’s been a lot of tears and conversations. Most of their knowledge of cancer is Terry Fox. They said, ‘Terry Fox died, does that mean dad is going to die?’”
Turner Valley RCMP Sgt. Paulina Larrey-King, who worked with Jeremy in Grimshaw and Turner Valley, said he’s a valuable member.
“He’s definitely a hard worker, very involved,” she said. “It wasn’t uncommon for him to be here hours after his shift was over.”
Larrey-King said it was a given that other members stepped up to help one of their own.
“We are a big happy family,” she said. “Lots of members and members of the public have made donations to a trust account we had started. As a commander it certainly makes me proud of my people.
As for the community you’re at a loss for words. Even people from surrounding communities helped.”
Turner Valley Mayor Kelly Tuck is also proud of the community, but not surprised.
“That’s what we do, we look out for each other,” she said. “People have been just amazing.”
Tuck put out a call to the community to collect money so the family could purchase a newer van.
In addition to collecting more than $1,200 during a bottle drive, the community donated $5,000 in just two weeks, she said.
“When you find out it’s a young family with five children it definitely pulls at your heartstrings,” she said. “They’re probably living on a limited budget right now.”
Tuck is organizing the Jeremy Perdue benefit fundraiser on Nov. 28 at the Turner Valley Hotel featuring a silent auction and entertainment.
For more information about the event go to Facebook and search Fundraiser for Perdue Family or to help out call Kelly Tuck at 403-933-4284.
Cash donations to assist the family can be made to the Jeremy Perdue Fund at the Alberta Treasury Branch in Black Diamond.
