Pupusas and haircuts: Community rallies to support London entrepreneur in a coma

Eddie Lopez is usually found trimming hair at his barbershop on Dundas Street or serving his family's cheesy Salvadorian pupusas at Covent Market Garden.

Today, the 37-year-old dad and entrepreneur is fighting for his life at the Ottawa Hospital while Londoners rally to send their love and support from home. 

Lopez suffered from an aneurysm rupture while watching his daughter play soccer at a London TFC game in Ottawa Saturday while on vacation with his wife, Jody Davis, and two children. He is now in medically-induced a coma. The family expects him to be in the Ottawa hospital for at least a month a half, on leave from running their businesses, Elevated Barbers Inc. and Cheros House of Pupusas.

"The love that has been shown in this community has been so overwhelming," wrote his wife Jody Davis to CBC News. That love has come in many forms, from kind messages and prayers from strangers and clientele to financial support.

"I've been shocked by the outpour from the community and just the way that London has kind of come together," said Leanne Edwards, a close friend of the family who started a fundraising campaign that raised more than $30,000 in three days. 

"A giant teddy bear" is how Edwards describes Lopez. "He knows how to put a smile on your face. He knows how to make you laugh, and he just shows up for his community," she said. He volunteers to give free haircuts at the Ronald McDonald house and shows up to his kids' soccer games with snacks, she added. 

The love the family shares just radiates out of them, she said. The family is usually helping others.

"Even in the market, everybody knows Eddie Lopez," Edwards said. Cheros House of Pupusas opened about four months ago at Covent Garden Market after starting as a food truck, bringing family recipes to local festivals and outdoor markets. 

"We are devastated by the news of this," said Amy Shackleton, general manager at Covent Garden Market. The smell of early morning rotisserie chicken is missing from the market as their business is temporarily closed. Yet, it's been amazing to see the market community come together and help them out, she added.  

Lopez is known at the market for his humour and being easy to talk to, Shakleton said. "Everybody here in the market loves him. We're just praying and hoping that he comes out great."

That love is felt just a block away at Talbot and Dundas streets where Elevated Barbers Inc. operates on the second floor. 

Lopez has been running Elevated Barbers Inc., a gender-neutral barbershop, for the last four years, making it through pandemic lock downs and construction on the street, staff said. 

"We haven't had quite a normal year yet, but we've just kind of persevered," said Brett Ariss, a barber at the shop. He credits Lopez's strong work ethic for keeping things going in the face of struggle. 

Ariss was shocked when he got a phone call from a family member while cutting hair at the barbershop with the news about Lopez. 

"He's still really fighting," he said.

Support from clientele and the community has helped build morale for the family. "Everybody's really come together to help support and give their well-wishes and prayers and thoughts," he said.

"He's very sociable and whatnot. It kind of reflects with how everybody's reacted to the news, and how they've come together. It's just one big family, so it's pretty awesome to see."

The staff at the barber shop are working extra hours to take on Lopez's clients while he's in hospital, but miss his presence. 

"He's just a fun-loving guy. He's very giving. With this profession, it's obviously kind of therapeutic for people to come in, get cleaned up, look good and, you know, have a little bit of a chit chat," he said. 

Yet, there are challenges ahead, acknowledges Edwards.

"You kind of have to take it day-by-day," she said. "It's a long road they're going to have ahead of them with like an outcome that's unknown at this time."

"It just breaks my heart."