Paying it forward -- the story of my cane

By Cheryl (Rostad) Barry of Underwood

Prior to a knee replacement in 2018, I purchased a cane at a local thrift store. After surgery I went to a rehab facility for a few days. I was required to label my belongings, including my cane.

Fast forward to 2025, I had my other knee replaced. On occasion I used my cane for added support. In July, I visited my brother in Kodiak, Alaska. On my return trip, I had a six-hour layover in Anchorage. To bide my time I read, made phone calls, and checked out the gift shops, one where I purchased several items. As I was exiting the store the clerk called out, “Ma’am you forgot your cane.”

As I was walking out of that store, I noticed another item to purchase but went to a different clerk, as the other one was helping someone else. I walked to the other end of the airport toward my gate when I realized that again I had forgotten my cane. I thought to myself that I didn’t want to go all the way back to that shop and decided to leave it for someone who may need it more than I.

A few days before Thanksgiving, I was expecting a call from my daughter whose family was about to land in Fargo when the phone rang. A voice at the other end of my “land line” asked, “Where do you want me to mail your cane?”

I was taken aback. He commenced to tell me that he was in the Anchorage airport. He was having knee problems. He had checked all the shops and there were no canes to be found anywhere. At the final shop the clerk said, “There was a person who left her cane last summer. You might want to check the lost and found.”

He explained how grateful he was to have found my cane. He said he was heading to Kodiak. I asked him if he knew my brother, Mike Rostad. Kodiak is a small community where everyone knows just about everybody. He said he was in some organizations with my brother and his wife had taught with Mike’s late wife.

We had quite a conversation which ended with, “I guess I’ll just leave it here. Kodiak airport is small so I won’t need it there. Someone else here may have need of it like I did.”

Could I receive a call from someone else wondering where to send my cane? Perhaps the fellow removed the label. I guess time will tell.