I am pleased to be able to call Joelle Rabu, the daughter of today's Neighbourhood Heroes, a friend. So last Thursday I read with great joy that she was soon to receive the city's Excellence in the Arts Cultural Award. Then, the very next day, I read that her father had recently passed away and that her mother is battling stomach cancer.

I have met Joelle's parents on only two occasions and they impressed me greatly. They exuded a joie de vivre, a love of family, and a love of all those people and things they and their family touched.

Joelle has basked in the light of powerful role models all her life. That's why she is the wonderful friend, wife, mother, daughter, sibling, and performer she is.

Soon after I sent my condolences, and my congratulations, by email, I received the following response.

I can't think of a better way to acknowledge, Louise Rabu, one of our long hidden Neighbourhood Heroes.

Joelle wrote:

Thank you for your kind words Bill. It has truly been a hell of a month. I've never been through so many different emotions at one time. That four-letter word called Life sure has a way of keeping us on our toes for one never knows what is around the corner. The worst part is that you can't even have a peek to prepare for it!

Mom is recovering quite well. She is truly incredible. She is 85, has not even had the chance to grieve her husband's passing (married 67 years!) and she is holding on with both hands and feet.

When she was diagnosed with stomach cancer in December, she had chosen to not have the operation because my father was getting weaker, was suffering from the onset of dementia and was blind. So she figured she could not afford to be away from him to have a serious operation and weeks of convalescence. It would be too confusing for him to be looked after by someone else.

She found her will to continue after my father passed away on March 3rd. Within two weeks she was preparing for an operation that would remove two thirds of her stomach.

That's when we realized that for the past three years, mom had been suffering terrible pain but didn't bother to deal with it for she was caring for my father 24-7; feeding him, bathing him, shaving him, keeping him happy. She had not had an uninterrupted night's sleep for 3 years.

The most amazing part was that when she decided to have the operation, her family doctor did not encourage her. He warned her that she was too old to have this done. Her surgeon gave her the facts and our family did some research and gave mom her options: if she didn't do anything she would continue to hemorrhage and the next one could be fatale.

I suddenly saw a woman whom I knew had gone through so much in her life -- war, moving, and building businesses in France, Australia, Winnipeg, and BC -- faced with yet another challenge at the age of 85!

She amazes me; her strength of mind is unbelievable. In fact, I've had the flu for a couple of days lately and mom is the one calling me 3 times a day from her hospital bed asking if I need anything and reminding me to take care of myself! Sheesh.

Always a mother I guess.

So tonight, as I receive a cultural award from the city, I will be thinking about my mom who should be the recipient of this award for she is the one who taught me so much and offered me the tools to do so many things in life and to do them with gusto.

What a gal.