An Israeli woman is crediting 'Grey's Anatomy' with saving her life after an episode of the medical drama prompted her to seek a second opinion about a lump in her breast.
Two years ago, Sarit Fishbaine visited a breast specialist to get a check-up. The doctor told her that she had “lumpy breasts,” but assured her that she “had nothing to worry about.”
“I was 34 years old, healthy and nursing my third child -- any lumpiness, [the doctor] said, was probably due to milk collecting in one area of the breast and the issue would likely subside once I stopped nursing,” Fishbaine told Yahoo! News.
Six months later, however, after she had stopped breastfeeding, a lump in Fishbaine’s left breast did not go away. She initially dismissed it as nothing, but warning bells sounded after she caught an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy.”
“In the episode, a young mom arrives at Seattle Grace Hospital for a mastectomy after her breast cancer had been mistaken for milk collecting in her breast. I couldn’t fall asleep that night -- it felt like a huge warning sign,” she told Yahoo!
The very next day, Fishbaine made an appointment to see another breast specialist.
This time, the doctor sent her for an “urgent mammogram and biopsy.” It was soon discovered that Fishbaine had Stage 3 breast cancer, which had spread to her lymph nodes.
"I started six months of chemo right away and after that I had surgery, I had a mastectomy and then I had radiation therapy so I got the full package," Fishbaine told NBC News. "I love 'Grey's Anatomy' and I love watching TV and I think God works in mysterious ways and that watching that TV show was probably my sign."
Fishbaine, who lives in Kvutzat Yavne, a religious kibbutz in Israel, is now cancer-free. She says she’s getting reconstructive surgery and working to “rebuild” her life.
On May 16, Shonda Rhimes, the director, producer and screenwriter of “Grey’s Anatomy,” shared Fishbaine’s story on Facebook.
Fishbaine isn't the first in her family to have a story go viral. As The Times of Israel points out, Fishbaine's dad -- Sydney Engelberg, a professor who teaches at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem -- won the hearts of netizens earlier this month after a photograph surfaced of him holding a baby during a lecture.
“Dad, you’re the best!” Fishbaine wrote on her Facebook page at the time, per a Times translation.
המקום - אוניברסיטה ידועה בירושלים.הקורס - התנהגות ארגונית.המרצה - ד"ר סידני אנגלברג. הארוע - בנה התינוק של אחת הסטודנ...
Bev Holzrichter, "The Internet is my hero, it saved my life"
CNN reported the story of Bev Holzrichter, 56, who runs a horse stable in Charlotte, Iowa with a live stream installed for foaling season. In 2004 one mare, Sierra was having trouble giving birth. Holzrichter went to check on her without realizing that another mare, Nifty, had broken down her door and was in Sierra's stall trying to steal her foal. Trying to defend her newborn, Sierra kicked Holzrichter three times in the chest. Users on the live stream watched the entire incident, and came to the rescue. Residents of Germany, the United Kingdom, France and all over the world called the Charlotte Rescue Squad. When they arrived 45 minutes later, Holzrichter was already in shock with a dangerously low temperature. "The Internet is my hero." Holzrichter said of her ordeal. "Those people watching are the ones who helped me. If it wasn't for the technology of the web cam, I'm not sure when I would have been found or what would have happened to me." Holzrichter suffered a damaged knee and leg.
Bear Silber: "How Reddit Saved My Life"
In a viral Youtube video chronicling his ordeal, Silber begins, "Six months ago, I almost died." Silber, was suddenly struck with a disease that disfigured his body and caused him to retreat indoors, not wanting to be seen. Doctors were unable to diagnose Silber after numerous tests. One day, he was browsing Reddit, when he saw a posted photo that resembled his symptoms. One commenter added that the man might have Cushings Syndrome. Upon further research Silber realized he had all the same symptoms of the disease. His doctor, however, was not convinced. Not until Silber went to an endocrinologist did she confirm that he had Cushing's disease. Silber was able to remove the tumor and is on the road to recovery.
Marc C. Santos and Rowan Santos
In 2008, Santos' wife frantically showed him a link about retinobastoma, a symptom of which is white eye reflex. Their young daughter Rowan's left eye had been changing color for the past week and her eyes often reflected white in photos. Megan Santos posted a question concerning the changing eye to babfit.com Another mom, Madeline Robb from Manchester England noticed the picture and recalled a similar instance with her friend's child. White eye reflex can in rare cases be a sign for retinoblastoma, an extremely agressive form of eye cancer. Santos rushed Rowan to the hospital where she was diagnosed with cancer. She lost sight in her left eye, however, if the cancer had gone untreated for another two months, she surely would have died.
Tourist Lost On Ice Spotted On Webcam
A 40-year-old German tourist walked onto a shelf of packed ice off a beach on the North Sea coast of Germany in January hoping to photograph a sunset. After it became dark, however, the man couldn’t find his way back to the beach and was faced with freezing temperatures. He began flashing an SOS signal using his camera’s flash. The SOS was spotted by a woman watching a webcam of the beach. She phoned police, who drove to the beach and flashed their headlights to guide the man to safety. The man, who declined to give his name, and his webcam watcher were never identified.
Amit Gupta
Amita Gupta was diagnosed with leukemia in 2011. Gupta wrote a blog post about needing a bone marrow transplant donor, and even created a website. Concerned people all over the country launched a campaign to find Gupta a donor. After 100 drives, 7,000 reblogs, tweets, Facebook posts, press, and fundraising, Gupta finally found a donor. He still has a long way to go, but he's on his way to recovery.
Deborah Copaken Kogan
When Kogan's 4-year-old came down sick on Mother's Day she dutifully took him to the pediatrician, who treated him for strep. The next morning however, Leo was worse. The family doctor tentatively diagnosed him with scarlet fever, due to the rashes that had appeared on his body. Kogan continued to post pictures of her son on Facebook, where concerned commenters worried over his condition. The next day, Leo was swollen beyond recognition. Kogan snapped a bunch of pictures to send to her family doctor and post on Facebook as well. Within 10 minutes, a former neighbor called Kogan urging her to go to the hospital as soon as possible. Her son had suffered the same symptoms and was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease - a rare autoimmune disorder that attacks the coronary arteries surrounding the heart. Private messages from pediatricians and cardiologists urged Kogan not to ignore the symptoms, damage can begin only five days after the onset of symptoms. Leo was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease and then Kawasaki-triggered liver disease. Two months later, Leo is recovering and doing well.
Damon Brown
Damon Brown found a kidney on Facebook after pleading for his life on a special page he created. On January 3 he received a kidney from Jacqueline Ryall, an acquaintance of his wife's who answered his Facebook plea. "She said it wasn't really for me. It was for my kids, because they deserve to have a dad around," said Brown, 38, told USA Today.
Kwanza Hall
Atlanta City Councillor Kwanza Hall saw a woman collapse on a street corner in Atlanta last May. His cellphone was dying, however, and he didn’t think it would make it through a call to 911, Hall quickly tweeted: “Need a paramedic on corner of John Wesley Dobbs and Jackson St. Woman on the ground unconscious. Pls ReTweet.” His followers sprang into action, called 911, and paramedics arrived a short time later to transport the woman to hospital.
Doug Henning: "The Internet Literally Saved My Life"
A fractured ankle and surgery to repair it caused Doug Henning to be off his feet for a couple weeks. One Sunday night, however, he woke from an excruciating pain in his left ribs and a fever. Googling "fever after surgery" on his iPad Henning learned about a pulmonary embolism in which circulation in an immobilized leg can result in a clot. If the clot breaks off it can travel into the lungs and cause chest pain and fever. Henning was going to ignore the signs until he read that pulmonary elbolism when left untreated is fatal. Henning went to the ER the next day where doctors discovered a clot. Thankfully a regime of blood-thinners will cause the clot to disappear over time. The moral of the story according to Henning, "Google is definitely your friend."
Vanguard has long had a reputation for eschewing the random fees asset managers are known for. But as our contributing columnist Allan Sloan notes, the company has started charging what he calls chintzy fees.
Clark set the Indiana Fever’s franchise record for turnovers (10), shot 5-of-15 from the floor and struggled with the Connecticut Sun’s physical defense.
Yahoo Sports NBA draft expert Krysten Peek is back for another season of On the Clock with Krysten Peek. Krysten just spent the week in Chicago at the NBA Draft Combine and kicks off draft season joined by CBS Sports' Kyle Boone.
All five of these hitters were drafted highly in fantasy baseball leagues. So far, they have not lived up to their ADPs — and that's an understatement. Scott Pianowski analyzes.
LeBron James reportedly wouldn't join an NBA team who drafts his son Bronny. Previously, LeBron has said he wants to play his final season with his son.
