‘this is where i need to be’: how an nl man’s final wish brought him back home to newfoundland
4 minute read
johnny critch rests on the medical flight home as his mother maryann holds his hand during the journey back to newfoundland.
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when johnny critch told his family he wanted to come home, he knew he wanted to spend the time he had left surrounded by the people closest to him in newfoundland.
after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in early 2025, johnny spent the following year undergoing treatment in ontario while his family followed his journey from home.
by july 2026, his health had declined, and his family began looking at how they could make his wish to come home possible.
johnny had been home for christmas in 2024 when he began experiencing significant pain from what was thought to be a hernia.
he went to hospital multiple times while he was home before returning to ontario.
when doctors removed the hernia, they found tumours. the cancer was first identified in his liver, before further testing showed it had originated in his small intestine.
it was diagnosed as a rare form of neuroendocrine cancer.
johnny critch rests with his sisters janine and cathy after arriving home in newfoundland, where he has been surrounded by family and friends.
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cathy critch, johnny’s sister, said it was a slow-growing tumour that could have been developing for years before symptoms appeared.
“it was possible that it could have been growing in him for five or 10 years, and it grows slowly before you feel any symptoms from it,” she said.
over the following months, johnny underwent numerous scans, blood tests and treatments.
cancer cells were found in his bones and lymph nodes, and he received monthly injections to try to stabilize the cancer.
cathy, janine and johnny critch pictured together at christmas when they were younger.
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he later underwent a series of liver embolization, a medical procedure that involves injecting substances directly into an artery in the liver to block or reduce blood flow to a tumor.
the family thought the treatment was helping when johnny returned home and appeared to have more energy, was eating more and was moving around.
but after johnny returned to ontario in april 2026, the family learned the treatments were no longer working.
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in may, doctors told johnny he had limited time left and that chemotherapy was no longer an option.
the journey home
the original plan was for johnny to return to newfoundland by road in an rv, a journey he had hoped to make himself.
but as his health declined, the family looked at having someone travel to ontario to make the drive back with him resting, but as his condition continued to worsen, they realized even that was no longer an option.
his younger sister janine critch decided to make a post on facebook explaining the position they were in.
“i thought, what harm can it do to let people know the situation he’s in,” janine said.
johnny critch (far right) in a family photo from better times. from left, janine and her dog, johnny’s father clayton and mother maryann, and sister cathy.
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the response was immediate, with messages coming in from friends, family members and people the family had not spoken to in years.
within a week, janine had raised $15,000 to help the family move forward with their plans.
“it was overwhelming,” cathy said. “we had done quite a few fundraisers when we first found out.”
through a connection with one of johnny’s close friends, the family began arranging a medical flight home.
valerie mulrooney geary helped organize the medevac, while annette drohan helped answer questions and support the family through the process.
the flight was a major expense, but through the money raised by janine’s post and the support they received in arranging the flight, the family was able to bring johnny home.
with the support of johnny’s doctors, they checked that he was well enough to travel and helped prepare the medication he would need for the journey.
the last-minute flight
when the medical team gave the go-ahead, johnny, cathy, his son dylan and his mother maryann critch boarded the plane back to newfoundland.
the medical plane that brought johnny critch back to newfoundland after his family’s original plans for the journey home had to change as his health declined.
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cathy said the journey was quiet. everyone was focused on making sure johnny was comfortable and hoping he would make it home.
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“we were just watching johnny to make sure because we were so worried that he would pass on the way,” she said.
when they arrived, the family felt a sense of relief that johnny had made it home.
as johnny was taken off the plane on a stretcher, cathy said he had a smile on his face.
“he had the biggest smile on his face, like the biggest smile,” she said. “it was amazing.”
‘i am so happy to be home’
since arriving back in newfoundland, johnny has been surrounded by family and friends.
cathy said the days after his arrival were filled with visitors as people came to see him.
“he wanted visitors that night, the next day,” she said. “we have a huge extended family and he has a lot of friends.”
johnny critch (left) with his family, including his sisters cathy and janine, his mother maryann and his father clayton.
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when his family asked if he needed a break from visitors, johnny’s answer was simple: “bring them, bring them.”
although the journey took a toll on him physically, cathy said johnny has still been sitting up, talking and joking with those around him.
“he texted me and my sister the first night we got him home because his son stayed with him, and he said, ‘i am so happy to be home,’” cathy said.
“he is very well loved by everyone he meets. he has a personality where he always has put others ahead of himself and wants to make sure everyone else is taken care of.”
johnny critch (left) with his family, including his sisters cathy and janine, his mother maryann and his father clayton critch.
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cathy added that he is also known for his sarcastic and witty sense of humour.
asked what coming home meant to him, johnny said:
“i could go into detail about that, but it feels f***ing great,” he said.
“i wish i had done this long ago. this is where i need to be. it’s the reason i came home, to be with my family.”
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