'Family' gives employee purpose
When Mark Seitz works on the maintenance crew at Franklin College, he wears a lot of layered clothing.
“It’s [to deal with] a side effect of chemotherapy,” Seitz said as he took off his gloves and coat in 75-degree weather.
In winter of 2009, Seitz, 61, was recognized for 30 years of employment at the college. He was also told by his doctor that he has an inoperable tumor on his liver and primary stage four colon cancer.
“Since they couldn’t cut the tumors out, the next option is chemo,” said Seitz. “So the Monday after Christmas I started chemotherapy. When that train starts rolling, it rolls pretty fast.”
Every other Monday Seitz goes to chemotherapy sessions, which last all day.
“The school has been really awesome with my sick days,” Seitz said. “Some days, I just can’t make it.”
Seitz works with two other people on the maintenance of Hoover, Cline, Shirk and Johnson-Dietz buildings. Because of chemotherapy, he has lost more than 70 pounds and the strength he once had for manual labor.
Some days he has the strength to work on projects, but other days he is forced to work in an office making phone calls or ordering parts.
“It gets really frustrating because it changes everyday,” Seitz said. “There’s no consistent routine in your body.”
Seitz said that the longer his body goes through chemotherapy, the weaker he becomes.
“I’m dealing with it and the campus is really good about it,” he said.
Franklin College will put on a Battle of the Bands benefit concert and donate all its proceeds to Seitz on May 8 at 2 p.m.
“It’s a total honor,” Seitz said. “You always hear about the Franklin Family, and it’s a reality for me now. It’s like a 1,300-people support group.”
Seitz said he’s been involved with music his whole life. He did “sock hops” after school when he was in high school, he’s been in multiple bands and he used to run audio for former Battle of the Bands benefit concerts at Franklin.
“That makes it even more of an honor,” he said.
This year he won’t be working audio or performing. This year, he’s coming to enjoy.
Seitz said that people ask him why he doesn’t retire since working is such a strain on his body. His response: “I just like being here.”
The money from Battle of the Bands will go straight to medical bills.
“One chemotherapy session is $10,000,” he said. “You know you have medical insurance, but then the bill comes [for what insurance doesn’t pay].”
For more information on Battle of the Bands, contact LaTika Webster or Ambyr Jordan.
