Community rallies behind the Campbell family

Chris Campbell and Emily Montgomery snuggle baby August.

By Wendy Lamond

The old saying, “When it rains it pours,” is very real and no one knows that better right now then Chris Campbell and partner Emily Montgomery.

Those who follow Campbell’s business, Chris Campbell’s Catering, online will be up to date on what has been happening in his world and, amazingly, Campbell is still smiling and trying his best to stay positive.

Campbell and Montgomery welcomed baby August into the world on Oct. 8. August was a premature birth and had to stay in the NICU for 29 days after he was born. The new parents were then able to take him home however, a week later, August had a setback where he had to be put back into the hospital at the pediatric critical care unit in the London Health Sciences Unit.

The family has a long road ahead but they’ve been getting support from Ronald McDonald House and support from a Go Fund me fundraiser. The couple is not able to work right now and say they’re appreciative of all of the help they are receiving from the community.

On Nov. 22, to add to Campbell’s stress, his food truck was stolen. The truck has been recovered, however there is some damage inside. As Campbell was meeting with the Stratford police to discuss the theft of his food truck, his SUV was broken into at the Ronald McDonald House parking lot. Luckily, there was video surveillance but he isn’t likely to see anything that was taken returned.

“I can’t make this up,” Campbell wrote in a post to Facebook recently. “They should make a movie of our life right now. We are so blessed by everybody that is helping us via Go Fund Me and e-transfers. All of you are the reason why I have not completely lost my mind.”

Some good news; baby August is now up to six pounds and 4.3 ounces, and is starting to get stronger. As hard as it is to imagine, two thefts on the same day in two different places, Campbell remains grateful and knows being there for August is his number one priority.

“I love St. Marys,” he added. “The community has been a saving grace for us and I can’t even express how much the support has lifted an immense weight off our shoulders and how much I wish I could hug each and every one. Thank you.”

To support the Campbells in their time of need, visit the Go Fund Me fundraiser at https://gofund.me/2c9c642fb.