"RENEWAL OF FAITH"
A few days after Yom Kippur on September 22, 2010 at around 6:00 p.m. I was sitting in my office working away at my computer when I received a call on my cellular. I looked at the number and it was our esteemed President, Peter Russin. Hi Peter, what's up? Steve, its Adrienne. I could tell from his voice that this was not good news. "Adrienne had a seizure!" And then he told me to stay calm as fire rescue is on the way and she has medical assistance at her side. I had so many questions. He told me to get in my car and drive over to Ransom where Adrienne was gathered with 100 other people for what Adrienne does so well, fundraising.
The next 72 hours would reveal a grapefruit size brain tumor, emergency brain surgery in New York by the leading tumor specialist at Columbia Presbyterian, and the realization that life as I knew it would never be the same again. This experience would begin a renewal of my faith in God.
I grew up in a reform Jewish family upbringing, my parents put the first shovel in the ground that created the Sanctuary which explains in part my devotion to the Sanctuary Renovation that is a "labor of love" as if it were constructing my own house. This has been my house of worship for me and my family for over 50 years. It is where my father, Joe Pardo, felt most at home singing the highest and loudest of all congregants, his voice resonating for me on every high holiday as he chanted that all too familiar notes with such passion. And yet in 72 hours my personal family household which had seemed so structurally stable and fundamentally sound appeared to be crumbling around me as I watched, Adrienne, bandages around her head hooked up to beeping apparatus' and nurses and doctors shuttling in and out of ICU. How surreal to watch before your eyes the love of your life flirt with death at this stage in our still young lives. If there was ever a time to make a long distance call to God, this was certainly a good time as any. In those 8 1/2 hours while Adrienne was in surgery, I prayed for Adrienne and for our family. I felt a great sense of comfort and connection to the Almighty as never before.
Before Adrienne went into surgery, we shared a moment together that was incredibly special and life changing. It's that moment when you realize who and what really matters in life, how important friends and family are, how incredibly blessed we are to have a temple clergy and community with so much love for us, how amazingly strong our 3 kids, Daniel, Carly and Josh, have been adapting to their life being thrown completely upside down literally on its head. The Temple Community has kept them grounded as Carly and Daniel prepare to be confirmed and Josh a bar mitzvah.
There are so many blessings that Adrienne and I have come to realize from this experience We are actually up to over 100. Yes, the cup is not only half full , the cup has overflowed. Adrienne and I have a new perspective on life (it is very personal and priceless). There is an even a deeper sense of love for this community that has reached out to us to lend a hand in any way possible.
Rabbi Glickstein, Davis, and Pomerantz have been there every step of the way to provide guidance, support and understanding. There are no words to explain what that has meant to Adrienne and myself. Yoga with Rabbi, artwork with Miss Grace, it is the little things that bring such greater meaning today, and Temple Beth Sholom is the place for a renewal and nurturing of Adrienne's mind and soul. How truly special to have our place of worship, our place for recuperation. Adrienne and I have heard from so many people taking me in confidence and telling me about their life changing experience as if to console me, comfort me and explain how everything will be all right.
I will never forget that call from Peter seven months ago to this day. He may not remember but he said to me "everything is going to be alright." At the time, I didn't know it but Peter was comforting me at a moment of great fear and anxiety. And, thank God, it turned out to be true. No matter what the future holds for Adrienne and I, that is in the hands of the Almighty. For now, we are so thankful for being part of this Temple Community and we are blessed to be able to share our lives, the simchas, and the sorrow, the milestones, and the everyday moments to make a fully, richer experience. Thank you to all of you for being so supportive to me and my family in our moment of crisis and in the renewal of our faith in God.
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