Markel

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

This is Markel. Markel with a "K." You see, for the first few weeks that I knew him, I was mistakenly calling him "Marcel" with a very incorrect "C." Now really, look at him, does he look like a Marcel? No. Of course not. I am an idiot.

Markel works security in my building. I see him nearly every time I enter or exit the elevator. At first he didn't smile much at me. Probably because he thought I was an idiot for calling him some French name. Eventually, I must have done or said something funny because one day, everything moved upwards and he gave me the biggest grin I'd ever seen. And just when you think that's big, make him laugh—off the charts.


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Markel is really a gentle giant. Six feet seven inches of pure nice guy. Which is why it was so hard, a few months ago, to see him go through what he went through. You see, Markel almost died. One day, that smile didn't show up for work even though the rest of him did. He had a fever and Frank, our maintenance guy, told him he looked like crap and should go home for some rest. A week or so later he was in the ICU in an induced coma. The doctors didn't know what it was but the only way to keep the fever and pneumonia from killing him was to induce the sleep. Worst of all, this fine gentle man didn't get a chance to see his wife before they sent him to slumber.

Thankfully, after some time, he pulled through. But I don't think it was luck. Markel is a strong guy. Someone of his size isn't just ALL smiles. He's a husband and father. He's got some fight in him. And this fight was worth it.

A tenant in the building started a donation fund to help with the enormous medical bills. The wonderful people of this community stepped up and helped the guy out to pay those medical bills. Medical bills that were worth every penny to bring that smile back to the front desk.

Just don't call him Marcel.


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Credits
Photo Assistant: Jeff Johnson