Blood and Silver

A True Story of Survival and a Son’s Search for his Family Treasure
Jan (‘Janek’) is born in Paarl in 1953 to Polish immigrants. A severe haemophiliac, he almost does not survive. When he is just seven, his mom dies, and when his dad marries a Catholic widow, Jan becomes part of a large family.
Jan (‘Janek’) is born in Paarl in 1953 to Polish immigrants. A severe haemophiliac, he almost does not survive. When he is just seven, his mom dies, and when his dad marries a Catholic widow, Jan becomes part of a large family. Yet he is always a little different and not allowed to play any sports for fear of bleeding. In 1985, just as Jan is about to start lecturing at UCT, he discovers he is HIV+ from receiving contaminated blood. In those early days of Aids, there is severe stigma and shame, but when Jan eventually goes public, he finds that he is widely supported. He goes on to have a successful law career, contributing to the new SA Constitution. Then Jan sets out on a quest – to unearth the family silver buried by his father at the onset of World War II, in former Poland now Ukraine, with only a rough sketch map drawn by his father, and the assistance of a metal detector man and a few other shady characters. Many misadventures follow. But eventually Jan finds his silver .

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