Another thank you to Dr. Fred Epstein - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Reader comment on:
Fred Epstein, 68, Leading Pediatric Neurosurgeon
in response to reader comment: thank you so very much dr. fred epstein

Submitted by Erin Collins, Nov 12, 2006 00:38

I was just a child when I first read about Dr. Epstein in Reader's Digest. Years later, while a freshman in high school, I had to write a letter to someone I admired for a project for my English class. I wrote Dr. Epstein the letter, and several weeks went by...no response. I figured he was a very busy, important man, and did not have time to answer all of the letter he received. Imagine my surprise when a FedEx man rang my doorbell, and handed me a letter, overnighted from New York, from Dr. Fred Epstein, the day before my project was due.

Dr. Epstein's letter was encouraging. He stated he was not the best student while growing up- nor was I. But, I looked at his life and what he had done, and thought that grades don't make a difference- people do. If I was determined enough, I could make somthing of my life and help people, just like Dr. Epstein.

I recently finished my Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology. I decided to look up Dr. Epstein online, wondering what had happened to the man who inspired me to work in the health care field. I guess life is ironic....the first article about Dr. Epstein that came up during my search was one about a traumatic brain injury Dr. Epstein received and the rehabiliation he was going through at the time to regain his cognitive skills. He would be pleased, I think, to know that I am a Speech-Language Pathologist at a rehabiliation hospital, working with individuals with traumatic brain injuries who are working to regain their cognitive skills. Dr. Epstein gave me courage to reach my goals, and in turn, I feel that I was able to work in a field that eventually helped him. He was a great man.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
My name is Ilya I was a patient of doctor Epstein back in 1989 when I was diagnosed with spinal... [MORE]	Ilya	Aug 21, 2008 19:13
I was one of Dr. Epstein's patients, back in 1976. Back then, I was diagnosed with a cranio-pharyngioma at New... [MORE]	Douglas Pavey	Aug 5, 2008 13:37
I have just found this website after trying to rack my brain remembering Fred Epstein. I read an article around... [MORE]	Teresa Bates	Mar 16, 2008 14:26
My daughter was with in a week of dying. She was three years old. She was already paralized from the... [MORE]	kristine smith	Jan 31, 2008 23:03
I was sixteen months when I was diagnosed with Astrocytoma. A rare childhood tumor on the fifth bone down from... [MORE]	Melissa Di Tonto	Jan 15, 2008 16:10
I have just found out about his death. I am deeply affected. It seems so unfair. In 1995 after many... [MORE]	Clive Aldenhoven	Dec 19, 2007 03:23
Dr. Fred Epstein...The one man who believed me when I said my head hurt so bad.....When I was 9 years... [MORE]	Donna Boal	Dec 6, 2007 20:07
Dr. Fred Epstein was definately one in a million. When our on year old son was diagnosed with a brain... [MORE]	Susan Wessolleck	Nov 19, 2007 14:13
I have that Reader's Digest on a book stand in my home office "Fighting for Daniel". Sitting up straight and... [MORE]	Fran Silipo	Sep 15, 2007 20:11
Katie Teasley You saved me in 1998 at your Inn my parents gave me to you. I had a Tumor inside... [MORE]	Cynthia Phillips	Sep 3, 2007 04:20
I am so deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Fred Epstein. Mere words can not express my... [MORE]	Maria Meneses	Aug 8, 2007 16:52
I was greatly saddened to hear of Dr. Epstein's death. I had placed my 2 year old daughter, Ashley, under... [MORE]	Bryan R. Wilson	Jul 23, 2007 14:32
Fred, Whereever you are, hopefully in a much better place, please know that you will never be forgotten. Bless you for... [MORE]	Neil Lerner	Jul 3, 2007 12:02
In 2001 my 15 yr.old son was found to have a tumor on his righr front tempral lobe, ...after some... [MORE]	martin luongo	Jun 14, 2007 15:01
In 1978 I wrote Dr. Epstein about a friend who was dying of spinal cancer. Although he was unable to... [MORE]	Mary Mancuso	Jun 11, 2007 23:38
Not a single day goes by that I do not remember this wonderful man who saved my daughter's life ,... [MORE]	kelsey's mom	Jun 3, 2007 18:17
It continues to amaze me to this day, that my wife and I were fortunate enough to make Fred's aquaintance.... [MORE]	Roy Bailey	Jul 15, 2007 09:32
You have saved my son's life. At the age of 17, he had a large tumor louged in spine at... [MORE]	Artemis Grammatas	May 17, 2007 23:42
Dr. Epstein operated on me, not when I was a child but when I was 27 years old. I had... [MORE]	Barbara P. Boyer	May 10, 2007 14:31
i didnt know that dr epstein died. in 2001 hij tired to save the live of my brother . he... [MORE]	claudia	May 3, 2007 15:56
I was googling Fred bcz my daughter is having headaches, I had no idea he had passed away. He was... [MORE]	Lynn	Apr 19, 2007 05:38
I dont really know if i would be alive if i hadnt met this man, i found out i had... [MORE]	mike straub	Apr 4, 2007 00:27
I just found out the sad news of Dr. Epsteing being absent from this body on earth. I have a... [MORE]	Daniel Doyle's mom	Mar 21, 2007 00:39
"Fred" saved my sons life, a miracle in its self since so many "specialty" hospitals and so many BIG ego... [MORE]	vicki afton	Feb 27, 2007 01:40
I only met Fred once .. My surgeon in Boston wasn't happy when I was moving to NJ . When... [MORE]	Lisa	Sep 4, 2007 14:46
I was not one of his patients, but the extraordinary "Dr. Fred" taught me so much about rising above adversity,... [MORE]	Liz	Feb 23, 2007 22:50
In the spring of 1991 my son Clint was 9 years old and had already undergone major brain surgery and... [MORE]	Mark Barrett	Feb 22, 2007 01:22
I will always be thankful to dear Dr. Fred Epstein for saving my Grandson Daniel VanderKlok from a tumer that... [MORE]	Betty J. Sierz	Feb 13, 2007 19:23
I too am writing to say "thank you Dr. Epstein, for my nephew, Daniel Vanderklok." There are not words to... [MORE]	Toni McKellar	Feb 14, 2007 09:38
I just learned of the death of Dr. Fred Epstein. Dr. Epstein operated on my daughter, Christina, in 1991 for... [MORE]	Catherine Burns	Feb 7, 2007 15:52
Thank you is not enough. Dr. Epstein had such a special way. He made people feel relaxed and comfortable. He... [MORE]	Doreen Sprague	Feb 3, 2007 20:01
I met Dr. Epsetin under very trying circumstances. My 12 year old daughter had just been diagnosed with a brain... [MORE]	Julie Young	Jan 21, 2007 11:41
He is my all-time hero! When nobody else gave me a chance to live, he took on the challege, and... [MORE]	Matt Frazier	Jan 16, 2007 13:10
On july 30 2006 my son dennis passed away.Dr Epstein saved his life twice in1989.Dennis survived his tumor 17 years... [MORE]	Patricia medina	Nov 7, 2006 20:19
i would like to thank dr. fred epstein for trying to help my terminally ill sister angie, he seemed to... [MORE]	suzanne scott	Oct 31, 2006 18:59
I was just a child when I first read about Dr. Epstein in Reader's Digest. Years later, while a freshman...	Erin Collins	Nov 12, 2006 00:38
July 2, 1982, my daughter. age 25 , collapsed on the street . Our good luck was that she was... [MORE]	Rose Robbins-Buxton`	Dec 27, 2006 22:22
At 17 I found out I had a brain tumor. It was distressing news, as you can imagine but I... [MORE]	lori	Jan 11, 2007 08:07
Just recently, while at a doctors visit I was asked why was the physician who operated me when I was... [MORE]	Michael Frank	Jan 13, 2007 20:02
I just have borrowed a wonderful CD from the library called" if I get to five" written by Fred Epstein... [MORE]	judy barry	Jan 27, 2007 19:37
Dr Epstein performed my surgery for crouzons syndrome 31 years ago, at NYU. My parents had taken me to other... [MORE]	Kari Atcosta	Feb 7, 2007 20:49
Dear Judy, my very dear friend has a brain stem tumor and I just today told her to look up dr.... [MORE]	barbara	Mar 1, 2007 17:44
im 1 of his patients and he saved my life from being paralizedi was diagnosed with spinal cord tumor and... [MORE]	aleksnadro miti	Mar 14, 2007 21:56
in 2002 dr fred epstein tride to save the life off my brother. my brother hade a braintumor, no... [MORE]	claudia	May 3, 2007 16:12
My son, Bryce,10, has been diagnosed with pontine diffuse brainstem glioma. He's currently doing a clinical trial treatment in Alberta... [MORE]	Mary Ann Iliscupidez	Sep 13, 2007 16:23
Dr. Epstein's long time partner was Dr. Jeffrey C Allen who practices at New York Medical Center We address: www.med.nyu.edu/people/allenj01.html [MORE]	Mary C Welborn	Oct 1, 2007 14:35
I immediately thought of Dr. Fred Epstein, remembering his story on Nightline, as I read a story of 10 year... [MORE]	Jordan	Oct 13, 2007 21:56
My 18 month old daughter was diagnosed with a JPA the actual week Dr. Epstein had his terrible bike accident...we... [MORE]	Jason Denmark	Dec 14, 2007 17:00

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