Finding someone who helped me 10 yrs ago

amother

OP ↓

Sun, Oct 13 2024, 11:45 pm

10 years ago, this time of year (2 days before y"k to be exact), I was with my newborn at a specialist's office and was given a very difficult, unexpected, and tactlessly delivered diagnosis.

I was not handling it ok, and a very kind frum lady approached me, helped me gather myself and calm down. We exchanged numbers and spoke once, maybe twice, in the following months (she hesitantly called me, I didn't call her, but appreciated it very much). She shared specific divrai chizzuk from her Rebbe (I think she was chassidish/heimish) that I've told over many times.

At the time, I had a very low tech flip phone that constantly lost my numbers. I remember copying her number down into a composition notebook I had in case it got erased. I don't have the notebook anymore, and don't have the phone.

I would love to someone how speak to her and tell her how much her actions meant to me, and how much she helped. I've thought about her often. I remember her last name, which is not an unusual name. I googled it, and sadly someone with the name, who would be in the same age bracket as this lady, suffered a terrible family tragedy a couple of years ago. For this reason, I'm hesitant to try a random person with the same last name and try to find her.

Anyone have a better way of finding her?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Sun, Oct 13 2024, 11:57 pm

daagahminayin wrote:

Sounds like a very special person. Do you remember any other identifying details about her: first name, location, anything else she might have told you about herself?

Just her last name and that she was in that same specialist's office because of a family member. I wouldn't have recognized her in the street even the next day; I was very distraught and crying when we spoke.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Yesterday at 12:05 am

amother Purple wrote:

If her tragedy isn't related to the issue you were dealing with, I think you should still call her and see if she is the right person, or can direct you to her.

Several family members with this last name, including the mother, in the same general area where this lady would presumably live, passed away together, completely unrelated to this medical issue. I'm trying to be vague.

I don't have number or a first name, I would have to cold call someone with the same last name and say "I'm trying to reach a Mrs. Xxxx who I met by the xxxxist's office ten years ago." Is that ok?

ittsamother

Yesterday at 12:12 am

amother OP wrote:

I think it's ok, if you further explain that she did a tremendous chessed for you and you want to thank her. Because that way worst case it's her and she was nifteres, her family would definitely be happy hearing a lovely story about their loved one. It would be a nechama to them.

amother

↑ OP

Yesterday at 2:58 am

amother Silver wrote:

Could you call the Dr's office? They couldn't give you her number but they might be able to give her yours?

Interesting idea. I never went back to that doctor. As I said, the diagnosis was given to me in a shocking, very tactless, and honestly horrible and misleading way. By a frum very young woman no less. That was my first and last time at that doctor. I wonder if I could call...