Free Angel of Auschwitz by Tarra Light Page B

explore and create. The mind can trust the wisdom of the body to govern itself.

Water
    W ATER IS M OTHER N ATURE’S remedy for almost every condition. It is the universal elixir that purifies and heals. One liter of clean water could save the life of a small child dehydrated from diarrhea or night sweats. A damp cloth placed on the forehead could reduce fever. Water was needed to clean wounds and treat for shock and loss of blood.
    Water for drinking was stored in large wooden barrels. As time passed, the water became stagnant and slimy green with algae. Flies and spiders crawled under the lid and drowned in the reservoir below.
    As I lifted my drinking cup, I observed the teeming abundance of life and death floating around in my water. My scientific mind became fascinated with the different kinds of bugs and spiders and how their bodies had adapted for survival. Dead flies floated on the surface, their iridescent green eyes seemingly watching me. The insect wings and spider legs settled to the bottom of the cup, forming a fragile layer of broken bodies. As I examined the layer of insect parts, it occurred to me that if the water could be filtered with a cloth or mesh, most of the debris could be separated out. A portion of the microorganisms would be caught by the cloth.
    Water for washing was in short supply. We were unable to keep ourselves clean. As I lay in bed before falling asleep, I learned to identify each woman and girl in my barracks by the distinctive smell of her body odor. Life in captivity stimulated my survival instincts.

Disease
    T HE LATRINES SERVED AS incubation chambers, fertile breeding grounds for all kinds of germs. The decomposing human waste attracted vermin and flies that carried the microbes of disease to the farthest reaches of Auschwitz.
    Disease spread readily from person to person. Due to lack of sanitation and overcrowded living conditions, epidemics and flare-ups were part of everyday reality. Contaminated drinking water caused many to die, especially from dysentery, typhoid fever, and cholera. Overcrowded living conditions contributed to the spread of airborne infections. Sneezing, coughing, and close contact through touching caused many to come down with influenza, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. Lack of adequate water to wash and bathe resulted in outbreaks of hepatitis and cases of tetanus. Malnutrition, chronic fear, and victimization weakened the immune response of the body.
    Stomachaches were commonplace, accompanied by nausea and cramping. I watched women run out of my barracks to wretch in the yard, to vomit the rotten food. Soon afterward, they came down with fevers or suffered from diarrhea and ailments of the bowels. Dehydration was a major factor leading to death among young children and the elderly.
    Women and girls were vulnerable to the sexual perversity of the iron men. The ongoing threat of sexual violation caused their bodies to produce an excess of adrenalin. Chronic stress resulted in a state of adrenalin poisoning, accompanied by headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
    As I comforted dozens of women and girls in the wake of sexual assault, I observed a natural purging response of the body. Within twenty-four hours of a rape, many of the victims threw up to vent their rage and purify themselves of the invasive male energy. The repercussions of rape carried some victims to their graves. Once they discovered sores on their private parts, they knew their days were numbered. It grieved me to watch my sisters suffer the shame and the pain of syphilis and gonorrhea, as I was unable to save them from the scythe of the grim reaper.

Life-Saving Supplies
    B ORIS WAS A VERSATILE ghost who could change roles readily. From his performance as a professor, he could quickly become a spy or thief. Because of our urgent need for medical supplies, Boris set forth on a mission to find the supplies we required. We prepared a list of what we considered the most necessary instruments and