A Heartfelt Goodbye and a Turn of Fate

A few years ago, the world stood still for a pair of parents from Florida when doctors told them to say their final goodbyes to their newborn daughter. "Everything seemed fine at first. She was eating, gaining weight, and looked wonderful," recalls Abigail's mother, talking to the local news channel. "She was at the height of her health, and looking at her, you could never have guessed she was dying."

A neurosurgeon examined their daughter and informed them she had a brain tumor. He advised them to get a second opinion, but meanwhile, remarked, 'If I were you, I wouldn’t waste any precious time. Start planning her funeral,' he instructed them.

The parents heeded his advice, and the arrangements for her funeral began. Just hours before the scheduled funeral, Abigail's mother wrote a farewell letter to her beloved daughter. In deep sorrow, Erica decided, as a last-ditch effort, to consult another doctor, Dr. Al Cohen.

"I examined Abigail and saw that the scans were truly concerning," he remembers. "Nevertheless, I thought to myself there's not enough evidence to conclude she is certainly going to die, and I won’t be the one to seal her fate."

Dr. Cohen took Abigail into emergency surgery, fully believing it would achieve the desired outcome.

Indeed, his faith prevailed. Against all odds, he successfully removed a complete but benign tumor from Abigail’s brain. Three days later, Abigail was discharged home, healthy and whole, much to her parents' astonishment. "It was as if she was born again," says Erica. "Abigail couldn't have been in better hands. We are so grateful to Dr. Cohen for his dedicated care."

This week, Abigail celebrated her sixth birthday, touching everyone present. "It's a miracle she's here with us, like so many children who have been in her shoes and came through. It's nothing to be taken for granted," her parents concluded with emotion.