Chai Lifeline Helped Him Through, Soon He'll Help Others

LOS ANGELES, March 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Many children dream of becoming doctors. For 25-year-old Daniel Bral, the reasons are very personal.

When he was 11, Daniel was diagnosed with cancer. It had invaded his body to the point that doctors later told him he was literally at the brink of death. In fact, had treatment been delayed one more day, chances were that he wouldn't have made it.

Daniel's cancer diagnosis took the entire family by surprise. Through their shock, they mobilized to maintain Daniel's spirit as the boy fought for his life. They found an organization near their Los Angeles home, Chai Lifeline, which arranged for a Big Brother to visit regularly. The two developed a bond that gave Daniel an outlet for his interests and a friend to listen to his hopes and fears. Chai Lifeline also sent Daniel to Camp Simcha, an overnight camp for children and teens with cancer, in New York State.

Bral credits the summer camp with changing his attitude toward life. While he was the only sick child in his school, at camp all the kids were sick. The experience helped normalize illness and allowed Daniel to focus on health and strength rather than symptoms and disease.

"Cancer is a stressful experience, and camp gave me the ability to de-stress. It was the only place I felt free," he recently recalled.

Now that the young man has beaten cancer, he's preparing to help others do the same. He is currently a student at Southeastern Nova University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Though he has a long way to go before hanging out his shingle, his instructors are already impressed with Bral's maturity and the impact that his childhood illness will have on his future patients. "I think he will be wonderful for other people in the same situation," one of his professors told a news station that profiled him.

"When you have cancer, there's so much that you can't control. The only thing that you can control is your attitude and your perspective," said Bral. "Chai Lifeline taught me that."

Chai Lifeline's mission is to bring joy and hope to the lives of seriously ill children and their families. Its five regional offices and four international affiliates provide the emotional and social support that enables more than 4,300 sick children and their families to cope with the crises and challenges of life-threatening or chronic pediatric illness.

SOURCE Chai Lifeline

Related Links

http://www.chailifeline.org