ELLERSLIE, P.E.I. — ELLERSLIE – Brenda MacCaull isn't used to being the centre of attention.
"She's not much for the spotlight," her daughter Sandra said.
The 84-year-old Ellerslie woman has long worked behind the scenes with her husband, Roy, who was the host of P.E.I.'s Community Showcase cable show for 10 years and still plays music for Island events and fundraisers plus has a recording studio that he rents out.
"Mom's got no music in her at all," Sandra said. "But if you call dad to book something, you talk to mom."
According to Sandra, Brenda is just as well-known as Roy for being his organizer and cheerleader. She always loves to hear from the many people she's met over the years to catch up, Sandra said.
That's what prompted Sandra's idea for what to get for Brenda's 85th birthday on June 27. She's asking people send birthday cards to her mother so she can take a stroll down memory lane.
As well, they would help boost Brenda's spirits following a recent hit-and-run car accident.
Brenda and Roy, who's 83 years old, were rear-ended by a driver in Inverness on June 9. Roy lost control of the vehicle and it veered off the road, flipping five times. The other driver fled the scene and an RCMP investigation is still ongoing, Sandra said.
She wasn't told until a few hours later that Roy was sore yet standing and Brenda was stable, having been pinned between the car's dashboard and floor. Sandra rushed to the Prince County Hospital in Summerside to learn her mother had 10 broken ribs and three fractures in her sternum.
While both MacCaulls are OK, it could be six to seven weeks before Brenda recovers to the point of moving on her own again. As an elderly woman, she's feeling worried about the possibility of hurting herself more in the future as a result of the accident, Sandra said.
So, Sandra's idea is for people to send cards, notes or letters to Brenda for her birthday. Brenda would love to hear how old friends are doing and what's going on in their lives, and even people who don't know her are welcome to send a message of encouragement.
"That'd be the best therapy for her," Sandra said. "And that will take her mind off of herself."
And while Brenda may not be used to it, her husband and kids think it's about time she was in the spotlight for a day, Sandra said.
"This is quite a battle to be facing in your 85th year," she said. "It's the best birthday gift I could even think to give her."
Where to send
To celebrate Brenda MacCaull's 85th birthday and to encourage her during her recovery, send her a card, note or letter to:
Brenda MacCaull
General Delivery
Ellerslie, PE
C0B 1J0
Daniel Brown is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government. Twitter.com/dnlbrown95.
