When Ali Nardo speaks about her friend Stephanie Vernon, now Poulin, the impact of Stephanie鈥檚 joyful spirit on those around her is unmistakable.
鈥淪tephanie is the single most greatest human being I have ever met in my life,鈥� said Nardo. 鈥淚 have never seen somebody be able to bring so many people together in such a short amount of time.鈥�
On June 14, the mother of three boys went to the North Island Hospital in Courtenay due to stomach pain. She was quickly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and told it was terminal.
鈥淭hey gave her days. We were told she wasn鈥檛 going to make it to Friday. She has times where she rallies, like today she has perked up which has been nice to see but she is sick and they are just keeping her comfortable. It鈥檚 just a matter of when but we鈥檙e just enjoying every extra bit of time we have,鈥� shared Nardo.
Her friends and family joined together to give Stephanie one last special moment in her life, a wedding to her long-term partner, Torian Poulin. On June 20, surrounded by friends, family and helpful hospital staff, Stephanie and Torian wed.
鈥淚t was beautiful,鈥� Nardo said of the wedding.
To get the big event off without a hitch in such a short period, many within the Comox Valley community rallied to fulfill a dying wish and make the moment memorable for all those involved in Stephanie鈥檚 life.
鈥淭he dress was donated, the cake was donated, the decorations were donated. London Drugs comped the marriage certificate. Everyone was just absolutely beautiful,鈥� shared Nardo. 鈥淭he car community came out in droves. After the ceremony, they did a celebratory drive-by. There were over 100 cars.鈥�
The car community, which Stephanie and her husband are a huge part of, showed up in a big way for her at this bittersweet ceremony. Rylee Zambon and Erik Viestra with the Comox Valley Auto Enthusiasts organized a group of cars that drove around the parking lots of the hospital, much to the dismay of security staff. But the spirit was felt by all who were at the hospital.
鈥�(The patients) were wondering what the commotion was, but it kind of perked up everyone, I think.鈥�
Nardo and Stephanie met when living in Ontario and upon learning that Stephanie was from Vancouver Island, Nardo questioned if Stephanie had ever been to Tofino. 鈥淪urfin鈥� in Tofino鈥� by the Planet Smashers is one of Nardo鈥檚 favourite songs and he had dreams of going there.
鈥淲hen I met Steph and she said she was from the Island, I said 鈥極h my god! Have you ever been to Tofino?鈥� and she was like 鈥楬ow do you know about that? Nobody in Ontario knows about Tofino!鈥� So when I came to visit in January, we went to Tofino. Everything happens for a reason; the car broke down and we were only supposed to be there for the afternoon and we ended up there for a night and I鈥檓 so happy that it happened now.鈥�
The wedding brought together many people from all different parts of Stephanie鈥檚 life - Nardo from her time in Ontario, as well as the car and race community, which is such a huge part of her and her husband鈥檚 life and family.
鈥淪he鈥檚 brought so many people out here, she鈥檚 changed so many lives. She鈥檚 just impeccable. She is the most wonderful person I have ever met,鈥� said Nardo. 鈥淚鈥檝e met a lot of really wonderful people through this and gained family, even though we鈥檙e losing one (member). Still, nothing is going to replace (Stephanie).鈥�
To memorialize Stephanie, Nardo and a group of Stephanie鈥檚 friends got a unicorn tattoo with the pancreatic cancer ribbon done by Cody at Parksville Tattoos.
鈥淚 consider (Stephanie) a unicorn,鈥� added Nardo.
A GoFundMe has been set up, with funds being raised for Stephanie's three sons, as she does not have life insurance and one of her sons has ongoing medical issues. Visit: to donate.
鈥淪he鈥檚 sunshine. She鈥檚 truly a once-in-a-lifetime human being,鈥� she added.
