My hero

The story of my Grandfather and mentor

The man that helped thousands of people survive. His story starts in Poland, my home away from home, or at least I’d like to think. I’ve never been there but my family name lives on there. Stanley Gwizdz, my hero, who built a house in Bukowina Tatrzańsk, Poland for his parents at only 18 years old. Then at 25 he initiated and donated a Mayo Clinic for the people in his hometown, because of how small his town was, the people were pedestrians compared to using cars, so the closes hospital was an hour and a half walk. My grandfather saw this and decided that he needed to help, by seeing his own family struggle with medical issues, he began by wanting change. So he housed doctors and nurses in order to fill the lack of medical assistance so that those who did not have a car or any transportation could easily access medicine. After he left Communist Poland to come to America and start rebuilding his life he helped his whole town enter the land of opportunity by inviting over a thousand people into America to work for his construction company so that they would be able to sustain a good life and help their families back in Poland. My grandfather was stubborn. In all my memories of him, I remember his fight and his pursuit for what was right. He always did what he wanted and made sure that all those he loved were taken care of. He was wise and kind, although a man of few words, he always believed in doing things yourself without relying on anyone else to do it. I remember he would always say to me “Jesil umiesz liczyc...Licz na siebie! Bądź człowiekiem." - ”If you can count, count on yourself! And be human.” My grandfather and hero worked for all he had, and dedicated his life to the aid of others. I miss him everyday and I know that he’s always guiding me from heaven. To my hero, kocham cie i dziekuje Dziadzia <3