A message of thanks

Words can’t describe the feeling of being lost in the Arctic, but when you are with someone so close, they give you hope that you can make it.

We are so grateful for the support, prayers, and thoughts from everyone during this hard time. We would like to thank the community of Iqaluit, all surrounding communities, and our friends and family in the South.

Thank you for the long hours and volunteering from the search and rescue team and the RCMP, who didn’t lose any time looking for us. We can never repay you for the dedication you all put in to find us.

The amount of support our family received is indescribable and we thank you. The trays of food and words of wisdom and hope helped our family and friends get through this difficult time.

All Inuit organizations were very supportive in all areas, whether that be supporting staff to go out on the land to look for us, or prayers and thoughts for our recovery.

We would like to give a special thank you to David Sudlovenick for finding us. He is our miracle, he is our angel, and he is our way back to our family and friends. There is no way we can ever repay you, but we will forever be grateful, for we were given a second chance of life.

Another big thank you to Sgt. Jimmy Akavak and Jimmy Noble for their quick dedication in organizing the search. It is these kinds of people who help make miracles happen. We thank you dearly.

Last but not least, we want to thank our family for their love and for always being there for us in our lives. The support and encouragement you all give us keeps us going and don’t think we don’t appreciate it or listen, because we do. We love you all so much and are very happy to be home and together again.

One last message to our peers. Sometimes life as a youth in the North can be hard and difficult but please don’t give up.

People do love you, and make the best of your life. Thank you to everyone who helped us get home. We were given a miracle and a second chance at life.

Alyssa Flaherty-Spence
Lavinia Qiatsuk Flaherty
Iqaluit

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