HALIFAX -- Friends, colleagues and strangers are reaching out to help a striking Chronicle Herald employee who suffered a stroke on the picket line last week.

Eric Wynne has been  a photographer with the Chronicle Herald for 18 years. It’s been a tough few months for newsroom employees and their families, but even more so for Wynne.

Stroke symptoms began on Tuesday when Wynne was on the picket line.

“I felt a sharp sinus pain behind my eye,” said Wynne. “It didn’t go away, and then I felt dizzy.”

A co-worker offered to drive him home.

“During the drive, I noticed that half my face was starting to feel numb, and I went, ‘uh oh.”

Wynne was taken to the emergency room, but even before seeing a doctor, he said he felt he knew it was a stroke because of what happened to his mother years before.

Wynne isn’t the only person in his family battling health-related issues. His ill mother moved in two years ago, and one year later, his wife, Kathleen Spilek, was diagnosed with cancer.

Spilek says over the 28 years she’s been married to Wynne, this one is the most challenging.

“The last few years have definitely tried us,” she said. “It’s been very difficult.”

Spilek is battling cancer, taking pills and going through chemotherapy.

Other than her long-term disability cheque, the family hasn’t been bringing in much money to support themselves,Their two children are also paying their way through university.

The family says they’ve always managed to get by, and plan to stay strong and not let the adversity get the best of them.

“We’ll just get through it like we always do,” said Spilek.

Wynne says the first thing he wants to do when he recovers is return to the picket line, where 61 of his co-workers have been striking outdoors for nearly 100 days, but Wynne’s doctor isn’t sure when or if that will be possible.

“Well, that’s Eric. He doesn’t want to let anybody down,” said co-worker Tom McCoag. “My word to him is, Eric, get better first. We can hold the fort while you’re away.”

Co-worker Claire McIlveen is also optimistic.

“Early signs of a good recovery are really positive, so I’m hopeful he’ll make a complete recovery.”

And their support does not go unnoticed.

“They’ve been great,” said Wynne. “Dropping off cookies and gift cards.”

A former colleague even started a GoFundMe page that’s brought in nearly $11,000 in just three days.

“We’re just floored by the number of people who have contributed, from family and friends and co-workers, to people we don’t even know,” said Spilek.

Wynne is feeling slightly better, but the doctors won’t give him any guarantees.

Still, he says things could be much worse.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Matt Woodman.