Sometimes when you hear a story it is difficult to tell who the real hero is.

This was by far one of the most heartbreaking yet inspiring stories I have heard, one in which if you didn't believe in true love, you will after.

Devin Petitclerc is one of four owners of Cochrane's newest comic book store, Rebel Comics. I have had the pleasure of seeing these owners out in the community participating in events and being actively involved, something that I know is important to them.

A friend of mine shared a small part of Devin and his wife Kim's story and I am hopeful as a community we can come together to show our support to this couple who have weathered an incredible storm.

Devin was able to walk me through their story and he told it amazingly well, I, on the other hand, had a hard time remaining dry-eyed.

Just over five years ago Devin and his wife Kim hit a stumbling block in their relationship and decided to call it quits as many young couples do. As they were gathering some of their last belongings Kim's eyes welled up with tears sharing news no one at such a young age should have to tell. Kim had been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma cancer at 21 years of age.

Devin in that moment decided there was no way he was leaving and has stood beside Kim, every step of the way. While I haven't met Kim, Devin speaks with such admiration for watching his wife not once, not twice, not three times battle a recurring nightmare that no one should have to face.

Cancer first appeared behind Kim's right kneecap and rather than live her life in pain, she made the incredibly difficult decision to amputate her leg in hopes cancer would not spread. Imagine being in your early 20s?! Active, energetic, spontaneous and full of life having to make a decision of such magnitude. For Kim, this was something she accepted; she amputated her leg at the knee, healed, learned to walk with a prosthetic leg, and pushed herself to look and live life in a new way. 

It was not long after though, Kim heard the news; cancer reappeared, only this time a little higher up the leg. To fight this second diagnosis, Kim chose chemotherapy and Devin shares this was by far the most painful part of the journey for himself personally. "That was even harder than the initial news she gave me because seeing her like that was the most heartbreaking thing I have ever seen. She was lifeless, couldn't use her prosthetic at that point because she had no energy and couldn't even put it on in the morning. She couldn't even lift her head, but every night she pushed herself just to be able to say that she loves me."

After a year of chemo, Kim returned to somewhat her old self. Her hair that had fallen out returned, the energy that was zapped was revived, and positivity for a bright, healthy future paved the way. Roughly 18 months to two years later, Kim was faced with another blow; cancerous nodules had grown on the outside of both her lungs.

Not able to face chemotherapy, Kim chose to have the cancerous nodules removed through three separate complicated and excruciatingly painful procedures. "Each time they did that surgery, they would have to go in through her ribcage in three different spots, they would have to deflate her lung, operate, and then stick a tube into her lung to reinflate, and also remove all the excess fluid that built up on the inside."

His wife's ability to make it through the procedure was indescribable. "Every time after the operation they would have to pull the tube out and they don't knock her out for that, so she has to get this 12-inch tube removed from the inside of the lung all the way through her rib cage. When we did it, she would stare at me. There was only so many drugs that they could give her and just the look she would give me...it was like she wasn't staring at me but right through me. There was nothing going on in her brain except the pain she was going through."

At this point, you probably think this story has nowhere to go but up, but not quite yet. As Kim is leaving the hospital after surgery three, she is told news that remains her reality today. Kim has dormant cancer cells in her lymph nodes which could easily become activated by stress, sickness, injury, or maybe life's unfair luck. Although Kim lives a pretty normal life and routine, the reality is her future remains unknown.

As I listen to their story I am awestruck by what this pair of young Cochranites' has been through and equally amazed that a man who could have chosen to run far and fast remains steadily by her side.

Kim today works full time (12-13 hour days), rides her horse, and helps give back to the community of Cochrane. Having to remain very cautious from a health perspective Kim sees a dietician and physiotherapist and chooses to live as healthy as possible. 

While the pair throughout the years have had a couple fundraisers to offset medical costs this is the first time they have approached the public for assistance to help offset a bill they were not expecting nor can afford; the hydraulic in Kim's prosthetic leg is failing and to fix it will cost the Petitclerc's around $90,000. 

You can tell Devin is not used to asking for funds, but knowing the community of Cochrane, I felt I had to share their story which to me makes any of my problems trivial and nonexistent.

The Petitclerc's have a crowd fundraising page here and would be welcome to different types of support at this point. I can't describe how badly I wished I could do something to help them as I heard their journey. There is something so admirable about their strength and resiliency and how they continue to fight back not giving way to negativity. "We are just enjoying every day that is given to us, and hoping bads news never comes."

I challenge you to get involved with this couple, chip in some money, lend a hand, support them in any way possible. It is an unfortunate reminder that in life there are no guarantees and how things can change for anyone in the blink of an eye.

If you want or can offer support to this couple, you can email Devin at Devinpetitclerc@hotmail.com