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In Jonathan Pitre’s hometown of Russell, there are butterflies in windows, butterflies in gardens and butterflies in storefronts — symbols of a community’s support for its famous son.
“You see them everywhere. Everyone was buying them,” said Joanne Arsenault, a server at the R&R Pub and Grill on Castor Street. “Just drive around Russell and you’ll see them.”
Jonathan’s mother Tina Boileau and her husband are frequent customers at the R&R and Jonathan sometimes came, too, when his health permitted. Arsenault followed Jonathan’s struggles closely.
Pitre, known as “the butterfly child” for his battle with epidermolysis bullosa, was beloved in Russell. News of his death Wednesday night in the Minnesota hospital where he’d spent much of the last two years fell heavy and hard on the town.
“I was in shock when I found out. He was such a tough kid,” Arsenault said.
“I’m glad he’s not suffering anymore.”
Russell Township Mayor Pierre Leroux described Jonathan as “an outstanding, incredible young man.
“Everyone rallied around Jonathan,” he said. “I’ve been a comic fan all my life and him and his mom are the closest thing I’ve ever seen to a real-life superhero. That’s the best way to describe them: real-life superheroes.”
Butterflies abound in Russell, home of Jonathan Pitre. The ornaments were sold to raise money and show support for Jonathan and his family. Blair Crawford/Postmedia
When Jonathan and Boileau were leaving for treatment in the United States, close to 1,000 people came out to a fundraiser that contributed tens of thousands of dollars to help support the trip, he said.
Leroux heard the sad news Friday morning when his phone lit up with social media posts.
“It sent shivers down my spine,” he said.
“You know it’s coming at some point, but you’re still never ready for it.”
Jonathan became a rallying call for the town, he said.
“Someone made a comment to me this morning that really stuck with me: He was our generation’s Terry Fox. He brought everyone together. His spirit and will were just incredible. Every time you saw him, he had a smile on his face. He had an impact on the lives of so many.”
Flags flew at half-mast Friday outside Russell High School, where Jonathan attended, and at the Russell Fire Department, whose firefighters led fundraising efforts to support him and his family.
“The wind has been knocked out of the town today,” Leroux said. “It will take a while to get our breath back.”
Bcrawford@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/getBAC
查看原文...
“You see them everywhere. Everyone was buying them,” said Joanne Arsenault, a server at the R&R Pub and Grill on Castor Street. “Just drive around Russell and you’ll see them.”
Jonathan’s mother Tina Boileau and her husband are frequent customers at the R&R and Jonathan sometimes came, too, when his health permitted. Arsenault followed Jonathan’s struggles closely.
Pitre, known as “the butterfly child” for his battle with epidermolysis bullosa, was beloved in Russell. News of his death Wednesday night in the Minnesota hospital where he’d spent much of the last two years fell heavy and hard on the town.
“I was in shock when I found out. He was such a tough kid,” Arsenault said.
“I’m glad he’s not suffering anymore.”
Russell Township Mayor Pierre Leroux described Jonathan as “an outstanding, incredible young man.
“Everyone rallied around Jonathan,” he said. “I’ve been a comic fan all my life and him and his mom are the closest thing I’ve ever seen to a real-life superhero. That’s the best way to describe them: real-life superheroes.”
Butterflies abound in Russell, home of Jonathan Pitre. The ornaments were sold to raise money and show support for Jonathan and his family. Blair Crawford/Postmedia
When Jonathan and Boileau were leaving for treatment in the United States, close to 1,000 people came out to a fundraiser that contributed tens of thousands of dollars to help support the trip, he said.
Leroux heard the sad news Friday morning when his phone lit up with social media posts.
“It sent shivers down my spine,” he said.
“You know it’s coming at some point, but you’re still never ready for it.”
Jonathan became a rallying call for the town, he said.
“Someone made a comment to me this morning that really stuck with me: He was our generation’s Terry Fox. He brought everyone together. His spirit and will were just incredible. Every time you saw him, he had a smile on his face. He had an impact on the lives of so many.”
Flags flew at half-mast Friday outside Russell High School, where Jonathan attended, and at the Russell Fire Department, whose firefighters led fundraising efforts to support him and his family.
“The wind has been knocked out of the town today,” Leroux said. “It will take a while to get our breath back.”
Bcrawford@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/getBAC
查看原文...
