Some strangers came together to make sure one Collingwood couple could happily ring in the New Year.
Gavin and Mary Ellen Shaw had a hard 2018, and the bad luck continued when Gavin lost his wedding ring while running errands prior to Christmas.
Gavin went through major surgery in September 2018 and had lost a lot of weight as a result. While out running errands on Dec. 20, he took his glove off and lost his ring without noticing.
On Dec. 21, he noticed the ring was gone.
“We were both very upset and searched the house thoroughly,” said Mary Ellen. “I decided to do what I could to try and find it.”
They retraced Gavin’s steps to the car dealership, Walmart, and Metro with no luck.
The ring came from Greece. The couple took a European cruise for their 15th wedding anniversary and purchased new wedding bands as gifts to each other. The bands were purchased on the island of Santorini and were designed with the image of a Greek key in them. The key signified infinity and unity.
This September the couple celebrated 25 years of marriage and 30 years together. And that’s also when Gavin underwent surgery.
Mary Ellen and Gavin returned home deflated at an unsuccessful search, but their daughter suggested posting something on social media to spread the word.
Mary Ellen posted on five local buy and sell sites and made her own public announcement about it.
“Numerous people reacted to my Facebook post and we were given tremendous support by our community and friends,” said Mary Ellen, adding there were friends who scoured parking lots looking for the lost ring.
“I believed that there would be someone who would find it and return it to us,” said Mary Ellen. “I believe that angels walk among us and that somewhere, somehow, someway, and someone would find it.”
At 9:45 p.m. on Dec. 30, Mary Ellen received a message from Debbie Myles Cook of Wasaga Beach. She sent a photo of a ring asking if it was Gavin’s, and it was. Five minutes later Darlene Wyatt Martin, an employee at Bulk Barn in Collingwood also messaged to say they found a ring. Gavin’s errands had taken him to Bulk Barn that day as well.
“She was overjoyed to hear this was my husband’s ring,” said Mary Ellen.
The band was found by Nelli Chaymann, who cleaned the store after closing on the night Gavin stopped in.
Mary Ellen decided to keep the found ring a secret from her husband a little longer. She picked up the ring on Dec. 31 and offered a reward, though the Bulk Barn employees wouldn’t accept it.
That night, at the end of the countdown and the strike of midnight Mary Ellen presented the found ring to her husband.
“He was shocked and uplifted that total strangers came together to make this happen. He had been thinking he would never see his ring again,” said Mary Ellen.
She is planning on visiting Bulk Barn again so Gavin can meet the two women who found his ring and returned it to them.
“My husband and I have had a very difficult time these past five months,” said Mary Ellen. “Losing his ring was devastating. We now have our faith restored and hope that our luck has perhaps turned a corner. We pray for his health and recovery. We were given a sign perhaps … at least that is what I prefer to believe.”
