This story was written by Veronica Lerner, author, chemist, and Peel Senior Link client.
I was born in 1944 in Romania. After WWII, Romania was controlled by Russia under the dictatorship of Stalin. When I was five, I had Polio in my left hand and right leg, but after nine years of physiotherapy, I was cured. All members of my family were humanists (writers). Only I became a scientist. My passion was music, but because my left hand was weak, I could not become a pianist. So, I studied Chemistry.
Life in Romania was very difficult. Between 1961 and 1989, we were under a dictatorship. As my brother was in Canada—having escaped in 1967—in 1982, I emigrated with my husband and our four-year-old son to Canada, coming to Montreal. I was hired as a chemist in a multinational French company.
A new country with new languages
In 1997, I was transferred by the company to Ontario with a promotion. So, I had to switch from the French language in Montreal to the English one in Mississauga, Ontario.
I still loved music, but also literature. In 1999, I started to write. My mom, a writer herself, encouraged me, and so it happened that I started my writing, mainly in Romanian, but also in French and English. What did I write first? Letters to my parents in Romania about my surprises in Canada. The main subject at that time was my son, their grandson.
Canada uses the metric system, Romania as well, while the United States uses the British system. Despite the fact that the metric system is legally implemented in Canada, there are many occasions when the two systems are utilized simultaneously.
One of the laborious computations is that of temperatures. Fahrenheit degrees, no matter how cute, are a real test of mathematics for a person with a Celsius education. When my son was five, he had the flu and I took his temperature with our Russian thermometer bought in Romania before coming in Canada, which showed 38°C. I rang the hospital and said he ran a high fever and asked what to do. The nurse said that as long as his temperature was below one hundred, I need not worry. My first reaction was that at one hundred, the child would start boiling. Luckily, I realized she was talking Fahrenheit.
So, my life in Ontario became a combined one: a chemist and a writer (especially a poet because of my love for music!) were living together in myself.
A life-changing procedure
In 2010, I retired from work and, unfortunately, immediately, I had to undergo an emergency surgery to save my life. Consequently, I am breathing through a cannula and a track that goes into the trachea through my neck. The predictions were that I wouldn’t ever be able to talk or eat normally.
However, a miracle happened. I could talk and feed myself, but I couldn’t travel, as I depended on a machine.
Living independently with the help of Peel Senior Link
I live alone—my husband passed away in 2013, and my son and his family are in the USA. So, I needed outside help.
Peel Senior Link is the group that helps me. The PSWs are great with me. I feel happy with each one of the PSWs! They are kind and understanding of difficulties with my left hand, my voice and my breathing. At the same time, they appreciate my sense of humour, and I love to share with them my funny thoughts.
I have published 12 books in Romania, two in Canada, and I am present in many anthologies in Canada and Romania. I am planning to publish an anthology of my poems and some other books.
So, I thank from the heart all the great people who help me to have this independent and creative life.
Veronica Lerner