Bob Collins
North of Thunder Bay, Ontario yesterday, Norman Shewaybick kept a promise to his wife. He would drag an oxygen tank on a toboggan more than 300 miles, an oxygen tank that would have saved her life had the nursing station not run out.
“It was my 26th wedding anniversary and that’s what Health Canada gave me for an anniversary present — a dead wife,” Shewaybick said at a community meeting at the end of his trek to Webequie First Nation, CBC reports.
First Nations leaders last week declared a health emergency in the province because there’s a shortage of basic medical supplies.
“The way it’s set up right now, it’s killing our people.” Shewaybick said at the conclusion of his 17-day trip that finally caught the attention of health officials. “Our people are dying.”
His wife, Laura, died after going into respiratory distress.
He penned this tribute to her this morning on his Facebook page.
