Meeting Mark, a Holocaust Survivor at Hospice Windsor: September 24-25, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Windsor Hospice: Mark’s Story
Walking over 50 kilometers with a bad blister on my left foot, I made it to Patillo Road. Cal Little picked me up and returned me to the hospice residential unit, 15 kilometers away in Windsor.
After meeting Mark the night before, I was keen to talk to him. Windsor Hospice had asked Mark to tell his life story and it had been written down as a keepsake for his family. I had read his powerful story and now wanted to meet the man.
When I entered his room Mark was watching a baseball game.
“Are you OK to talk, Mark?” I asked.
“Sure, sure.” Mark turned down the sound, but left the picture on the TV.
“I've read your story, Mark. It must have been hard in Poland?”
“Yes, my stepbrother spent six years trying to get rid of me. Hitler then spent five years trying to do me in, but here I am, an old man of 82.”
Mark: Surviving the Holocaust
Mark's mother had remarried when Mark was very young and one of his stepbrothers had made his life hell until Mark was seven. A cousin then took Mark in and took care of him until he was 12. Then, in 1939, the Germans bombed his town. In May of 1940 Mark had been taken to Sangerhausen; a slave labor camp in Germany. In October of 1944 Mark had been transferred to Mittlebrau-Dora, a concentration camp, where over 20,000 people died.
Mark: Life in Canada
“Now, Mark, how was it that you came to be in Canada?” I drank some coffee that I had brought in with me and tried to find out more about Mark.
“After the war I worked in a coal mine in Belgium. I didn't want my sons working in the mines. I also wanted them to get a good education... so I applied to Canada, Australia and Britain. Canada was the first place to accept me.”
From Mark's story I knew he had come over with a wife, a young daughter and two small sons to Canada in 1951. He had then worked as a farm worker, but learnt a trade as a diesel mechanic. In one job they had called him “the diesel doctor.” Mark had worked in Toronto, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Labrador and other places. He had been a tall, powerfully built man, who had worked hard and taken good care of his children. As we talked he still had a powerful presence, although he told me he had lost 80 pounds in weight.
What Hospice Means to Mark
In 1957 Mark first started to have problems with his lungs. In 1999 he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. Now, 10 years later, Mark had been in the Windsor Hospice residential house for three months. I wanted to know what hospice meant to Mark.
“Can you tell me what you think of the hospice?”
“Well, what's not to like? In the hospitals I couldn't sleep. Here I can. If I need anything here I can call and someone will come. It's like a 5-star hotel. If I can do anything to help hospice here I would.”
The look of gratitude on Mark's face said more than words could. After all he had been through in his life, he now had a safe place to be, with people to take care of him, as he had taken care of the people around him.
“Well, you take care there Mark.”
“And you take care out there, too.”
Mark shook my hand. He turned up the sound on the television and settled back in his seat to watch the game...after all he had been through at last he was in peace.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Arriving Again at Hospice Windsor
It was funny, I had struggled to reach Windsor by the deadline and was an hour early and had to wait.
Outside a Midas car repair shop I talked to Cal and Nancy. A photographer from the Windsor Star Gazette showed up and took pictures of me and Cal walking down Tecumseh Road. While we were there two of the hospice staff arrived to take video and photographs. Kathy Vincent took the video and a young girl called Nicky took the photos.
The volunteer who had served me food on Wednesday night, Laura Gavin, also arrived to walk in with me.
The time ticked away and at about 11 am, Laura and I began walking down Jefferson and then on to Empress to reach the hospice buildings.
New Friends/Old Friends/Media
A large number of staff and volunteers had gathered outside the hospice office to welcome me in. Amongst the crowd were Bev Boucher, and the executive director's assistant Lena and her sister Linda. They had all met me back in 1988. The woman who I had met back in Thamesford was also there.
A reporter from the Canadian Broadcasting Company filmed me and carried out an interview. He was quick and to the point. Photos were taken by the hospice sign, and then it was time to head inside.
A reporter from the Windsor Star Gazette interviewed me and stayed for my presentation. The presentation was well received and I signed a number of books for the people in the hospice office.
The executive director Carol Derbyshire arrived and it was good to see her again after 21 years.
R-e-l-a-x-i-n-g with Therapeutic Touch
After a little bit of lunch I managed to have about 15 minutes to sit down with a therapeutic touch practitioner called Mary Jane. I lay back in a reclining seat and closed my eyes. Mary Jane would lightly touch my arms, head, legs and feet, to stimulate the energy there. I wasn't sure if I believed it would help, but after the hectic morning it was good to relax. After my 15 minutes I was almost asleep. Mary Jane said I could sleep, but unfortunately I had a number of things to do.
Giving Mark My Book
High on the list was giving a signed copy of my book to Mark in the residential unit.
As I entered his room Mark was eating lunch. We talked briefly and I checked that Mark wanted a book. He was grateful. We shook hands again and wished each other good luck on our respective journeys.
Saying Goodbye – and the Present of New Shoes
At 3:45 Laura Gavin arrived I said my goodbyes to Cal Little, Peggy Winch, Kathy Vincent, and Mary Jane. I had a train ticket to go to visit the hospice in Guelph.
Before going to the train station, Laura drove me to a place called “The Running Factory.” My feet were measured and Laura treated me to a new pair of New Balance running shoes! [Editor’s Note: We at the National Hospice Foundation are touched by the thoughtfulness and generosity of this gift! Thank you, Laura!]
Train to Guelph
I was early for the train. Laura took me to a Tim Hortons. I treated Laura to a hot apple cider, whilst I had an iced cappuccino.
At around 5:50 Laura waved me goodbye and I was on my own.
From the hectic performance at the hospice to a bit of quiet solitude...it was good.
The train pulled in and I climbed aboard. The miles I had walked down from London to Windsor rushed by.
Aboard the train I dozed. It was good, for the next two days I would do little walking and that meant my feet could begin to recover.
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