THE OTHER SIDE OF TRAGEDY

Amit is a young adult who was traveling with her family in Israel when a tragic accident occurred to her Dad. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries, leaving the family in shock while navigating through their loss and grief in another Country. Ten days after her Dad’s passing and as the family returned home to California, Amit began to have odd symptoms that would suddenly require a trip to an emergency room late on a Saturday night. I received a call from a caring primary care physician who knew Amit’s presence in a community ER. She required a complicated surgery for a large Meningioma on the frontal lobe of her brain. This complicated surgery required a skilled brain surgeon with expertise in this exact brain surgery. Still, none could be found in the larger surrounding areas where the patient resides - including one of the local academic medical centers. Understanding the urgency of many brain tumors, I was able to make direct contact with one of the most skilled neurosurgery teams nationally. Within 48 hours, Amit was admitted to Los Angeles and had a successful surgery with her Mom, Simona, by her side. Her brain is recovering beautifully. Yet the family’s hearts are still broken. Through Amit’s surgery and hospitalization, I did not worry about the surgeon's and staff's expertise. Still, I anxiously prayed for Amit and Simona as they faced the additional fear of complex brain surgery. I thought of Simona, who had just lost her husband 14 days prior, and wondered how she would handle seeing her Daughter in such a frightening state. I worried for them and constantly communicated with them and the hospital team.

Amit and Simona's courage in the face of such loss in life affected me greatly. They both have shown grace and perseverance in such a difficult time in their lives. Assisting them was a personal honor. They will remain one of the most treasured experiences in my career.

Sincerely,

Candy Hammeras, CTR Founder