When Demo Kaltabanis was a kid, he lived two lives.  

In one, he hoped his friends and fellow students saw him being like everyone else. The other life he kept secret. That was the life he lived with his family.  

There were six of them – his parents, grandmother, two younger brothers, and Demo – living in an apartment only the size of a large garage. As little boys, the brothers all slept in one bed. When they got older they would sleep on couch cushions and mattresses on the living room floor. There was just enough money to live, but in a sparse way. They had none of the fun things – no trips, no outings for ice cream or a movie.

“As I got older, I didn’t want to tell people about my living conditions. I would go to other people's houses rather than inviting them to mine. I didn't want them to see that I didn't have my own room or a desk.”

Then – a spark of light, and hope. He was in middle school and had holes in his winter boots. His teacher knew of his tough living conditions. They quietly offered him a good pair of boots and two pairs of jeans. They told him they were her son’s and he’d outgrown them. While the boots and jeans helped him fit in at school, this act of compassion also inspired Demo.

“She really made an impact on me because that gave me my drive to do the same for others. I wanted to give to others what they don't have.”

He got another glimpse of compassion when he had a part-time job at a florist. In addition to being able to use his wages to help out his family, he realized that with many customers, he wasn’t just selling them flowers.  

“We worked with funeral homes. I was helping people whose loved ones had just died. They were sad. I realized I was helping them encapsulate the lives of their loved ones in a flower arrangement. That taught me empathy. I learned to choose the right words to talk with them.”

That sense of support came around again when he arrived at Western, and was welcomed by students who helped him move in. As the first member of his family to seek a post-secondary education, Demo was highly motivated to succeed at Western. And his vision was clear as he pictured his future.

“I picked nursing because it offered a career in the healthcare field where I can interact with clients in a supportive way.”

Demo met other students at Western who grew up in similar circumstances, which led to a shared sense of belonging. And Demo started embracing his past as he took part in public speaking opportunities at the university.

“At the end of the day we're all here for the same task, you know, to get our university degree, to further our education, to make a difference in this world.”

Inspired by the acts of kindness and invaluable lessons that shaped his first 22 years, Demo is now paying it forward. As a registered nurse caring for patients in the emergency department, he channels the empathy he learned from his teachers, the flower shop customers, and those students who welcomed him to Western. And he encourages others not to hold back.  

“I know I’m not the only one who’s had to overcome hard times. Many people struggle with lives harder than mine. I want them to know that the sky’s the limit. And that it’s ok to be different and to share what you’re feeling.”

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