‘Right now, he is fighting’: Wife of injured Belleville police officer is grateful for outpouring of support

Article content

Article content

In a message on Facebook Tuesday night, Ashley Smith posted a photo of herself holding the hand of Const. Jeff Smith, who is in critical but stable condition in hospital.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Article content

“Today, I held Jeff’s hand. And I thought about all of those hands. All of the people who have carried him, cared for him, prayed for him, fought for him and held us up when we didn’t know how we were going to stand,” she wrote. “I will never forget any of it.”

Article content

Article content

A GoFundMe for the family, organized by the Canadian Jewish community, raised $518,231 as of Thursday, surpassing its initial goal of $450,000.

Article content

Below, Ashley Smith’s statement:

Article content

Hello, world.
I don’t know where to begin.
My words aren’t strong or steady yet, but I knew I needed to find them. I needed to use my voice for my dear Jeff, until he is able to use his.

Article content

From the deepest part of my heart and soul, thank you.

Article content

Thank you to this good and kind world that has surrounded Jeff and our family with more love, compassion, generosity and selflessness than I could ever put into words.

Article content

I cannot begin to express what the outpouring of love and support has meant to us. I know there are things happening every day that I don’t even know about yet. Messages being sent. Prayers being said. People checking in. Hands reaching out.
And I know that my gratitude will never be enough.

Article content

Article content

Article content

I am witnessing real-life miracles.
And so many of them have happened through human hands.

Article content

Article content

The life-saving hands of paramedics and police. The hands of an angel neurosurgeon. The steady, capable hands of trauma teams, doctors, nurses, RTs, PSWs and so many others whose names we may never know, but whose kindness and skill we will carry with us forever.
The helping hands of neighbours, friends, community members and volunteers.
And then there are the hands that held me and my sweet girls when we were living through the scariest and darkest day of our lives.

Article content

Today, I held Jeff’s hand.
And I thought about all of those hands.

Article content

All of the people who have carried him, cared for him, prayed for him, fought for him and held us up when we didn’t know how we were going to stand.

Article content

I will never forget any of it.

Article content

I also want to send my love and prayers to the Jewish community, and to every scared soul who was there on Sunday night. Please know that your love, your prayers and your support have reached us. We are deeply grateful. We love you, we see you, we pray for you.

Article content

So I am asking for one thing.
Keep it coming.
Prayer. Hope. Faith. Love. Whatever you have to give, please keep giving it. We will take every bit of it we can get.
Jeff has a very long, difficult road ahead.
But he is not walking it alone.
He has an army of love behind him.
And I know Jeff.
He is the best man I know.
He loves his family with his whole heart. He cares deeply. He gives freely. He shows up. He is a man of integrity. He is my safest place.
And right now, he is fighting.
So we will fight with him.
Thank you for loving him.
Thank you for believing in him.
Thank you for honouring him.
Thank you for holding our family up.
Our hero.
Your hero.

Article content

With heartfelt gratitude,
Ashley