On Sunday, November 23, Emily & Chris will travel to Boston so he can receive a needed mitral valve repair surgery. They will remain Boston for the duration while my nephews stay in Portland with Chris’s parents. We’re all hopeful that he will be home by Thanksgiving, but the possibility exists that he’ll have to remain in the hospital longer than the projected recovery period. And while they’re preparing as best they can, they could really use some help with meals during this season of breaking bread with friends and family. The weeks following Chris’s return home will be the period that the family could use the most support. The last couple of years has brought the Van Cannon family more than their fair share of challenges and setbacks. Through all of it, they remained resilient and optimistic. They’ve reluctantly asked for help when it could not be avoided, but on the whole, they shouldered this time of uncertainty with fortitude and quiet courage. With them on the East Coast and me in The Mitten, I haven’t been able to help out as much as I would like. With those things in mind, I’m hoping to gather a small circle of support around them now. If you’re local to them and would be willing to drop off a meal, send a gift card, or help in any small way, please reach out, sign up or share this page. It would mean the world to our family.