It was a typical hectic Thursday for Barb Stanford, the co-owner of What's Pop'n Pop Shop last week. She was in the office taking care of business while her husband, Kent Stanford had driven to Calgary to run a few errands as well. 

“Since the weather was bad, we decided he [Kent] would run into Calgary to get some supplies for the Pop Shop, and I'd stay and run it,” Stanford said. “Then our vehicle started acting funny, so after he was done the errands, he just happened to be near a friend who has a tire shop."

Kent would stop by the autobody shop to get this car looked over. 

“I had my cell phone in my office, volume off and working and I just happened to go back in my office to grab something and I saw my phone light up and it was a number I didn't know,” she said. “I just had a feeling to answer it. It was our friend Ryan, just panicking and he said, ‘Barb Kent's having a medical crisis.’” 

Kent Stanford was having a heart attack that was then followed by a seizure. 

“He just said he wasn't feeling good and then they noticed he was going white,” Stanford said. “It was pretty scary. He shouldn't be here. He had 100 per cent blockage in his right artery. It was this horrible, perfect storm.” 

Kent had a stent inserted and was released from the hospital a few days ago.

“He's very sore; he’s doing as well as he can. He's got no energy, [even] just to sit up. It takes everything out of him. He's super frustrated. He's not sleeping, he's got insomnia from the trauma of everything,’ Stanford said. “But he's alive and that's what matters. We're just glad he's still here.” 

Barb and Kent Stanford opened the What's Pop'n Pop Shop last July, and as with many businesses in their infancy, there is little profit to be had in the early days.  

“He's [Kent] is the breadwinner of the family. We're paying our staff, we're paying your bills, but there is no extra. So, when I'm at the shop working, it's because I need to be there,” Barb said. “[Kent] has a construction business and so he can't drive for 30 days, let alone he might not be able to work for two or three months. We got him to pull through and live and then it kind of hit me hard Sunday night and I just kind of went into panic survival mode.” 

Hence the social media post that appeared on What's Pop'n Pop Shop’s Facebook page, urging Airdronians and Airdrie businesses to come by the store and bolster business. As with many calls for Airdronians to rally around a community member, the city and its residents didn’t disappoint. 

“We've had so many people... step up,” said Barb, tearfully, overcome with emotion. “It was unreal. We had no idea people even knew about the Pop Shop, let alone cared so much about Kent.” 

When Kent is at work, customers immediately gravitate towards his warm smile. 

“Kent is the one who's usually in on the weekends, taking people's orders and being friendly and silly and loud. He's the heart of the Pop Shop.” 

Kent and Barb Stanford recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on February 14th. When asked if Barb believes the outpouring of support from the community is a testament to Airdrie’s spirit, she didn’t hold back her tears of joy. 

“This has been very eye-opening for us. It's been such a lesson of love. We really look forward to paying it forward and giving it back and meeting all these people.”

 

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