22 ~ Sunday, November 7, 1993 -- North Shore News

BECAUSE SOMEONE CARED

Cabbie’s concern brings aid

The following story, written by a
North Shore resident, is part of
aseriesundertakenby the Lionsview
Seniors’ Planning Society to raise
awareness of seniors’ services
available on the North Shore. The
program is sponsored by a grant
from the New Horizons Program
‘of Health and Welfare Canada.
For more information about the
society call 985-3852.

THE DISPATCHER and most of
the cab drivers knew her.

She had called regularly for
several years: shopping on Thurs-
day morning, then to the library;
plus irregular calls for trips to the
doctor, dentist, or the drug store.

Even with her cane she was
shaky, and she rarely had much to
say, but she always gave-the driver
25%; she was always courteous,

So when there was no call on
Thursday morning,. one of the
cabbies calied in: ‘‘Where’s the
Palmerston fare this morning?”

No one knew her name.

All they had was her house ad-
dress: she always phoned in; she
always paid cash.

But.she was a regular, and they
liked’ her, and so they were

_‘ vaguely concerned by her silence.

Samji particularly thought

about her as he drove.

What if something had hap-
pened to her? What if she had
fallen and could not get to the
phone? What if she was too sick
to get up, and no one was there to
see her?

The garden was always neat; he
had noticed a gardener’s truck and
workmen once when he had called
for her, but now he recalled that
the house itself could use a coat of
paint. He guessed that she lived
alone.

The thoughts would not go
away, and by mid-afternoon he
found himself outside of her
house. There was a fight on, and
he could hear a radio or TV, but
there was no response to his
knock.

Carefully, he tried the door.
Locked,

What to do?

He called the dispatcher. They
decided that. Samji would stay
outside the house and the dispat-
cher would call the police.

While the call took place, Samji
checked with neighbors, none of
whom had seen or heard from the
lady, who lived alone.

It was the police who gained
entry, and found her sick and
barely conscious. But it was the

peed

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cab driver and dispatcher who
made the connection.

There are, it is estimated, 1,500
isolated seniors on the North
Shore.

If this story prompts a caring
cabbie or bus driver to make a
connection which restores one to
society, it will have been worth the
telling.

‘7
i

_CORRECTION NOTICE
In our B10-1 Gifts to Make Your
House A Home fiyer, Sharp
Microwave #R-2A95 on page 19
will be substituted at the store.
Gumball Machine on page 23,
Fancy Mini Gloves on page 35,
Sweater #4 on page 42 will be
late _ rainchecks will be available
at the store. In our 810-1B Super
Thursday Sale flyer, Fashion
Jewellery on page 1 should read
“Excludes 7.99 choker and 7.99
matching earrings,”. Sor-y for any
inconvenience this may have
caused.

For the greatest selection
of work boots, check out
Volume Shoe Source Ltd.
or guaranteed

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# 986-7606

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WEST VANCOUVER