Residents of Auburn Bay are coming together to assist and support the grieving members of their community who lost their three-year-old boy to a drowning last weekend while on vacation in Orlando, Florida.
Blue ribbons have been tied by neighbours to the trees along the main route into the community to honour the memory of Noah Catto, the preschooler who loved the colour blue.
Noah was swimming in a private pool at a hotel during his family’s vacation on March 17 when the tragedy occurred. The young boy was pronounced dead in hospital the following day.
Brad Young, the family’s pastor, says Noah’s parents are devastated. “When something like this happens, the weight of it is unbearable without hope and the family has a lot of hope.”
Signs of support for the family have been placed throughout the neighbourhood.
“Auburn Bay has so many families,” said Jordan Guildford who lives in the community. “Everyone has children around that age or knows someone. For me, that’s my two babies. For me, it hits too close to home.”
A bake sale has been organized for Friday between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at 191 Auburn Sound Manor Southeast to help the family with their financial burden.
“We just want them to know that we’re with them,” said April Robert, a bake sale volunteer. “We’re walking and standing together. We’ll make it out as good as possible.”
Pastor Young says Noah’s parents are appreciative of the support. “They’ve never felt more devastated then they do right now but they’ve never felt more love at the same time.”
Noah’s organs have been donated in attempt to help save the lives of other children.
With files from CTV’s Kathy Le
