My Tehila was a perfectionist who thought our treatments disgusting, not befitting of a young lady. My Tehila fretted the big things: not getting to study in Israel, missing a simcha, not completing school and acing the Regents. My Tehila asked the big questions like “what is going to happen to me?” and actually listened to the answers we could barely speak. And somehow, my Tehila could experience and transmit pure and unmitigated joy. She pondered the future but lived and loved every minute.
Once her treatment began, Tehila could attend school only sparingly. Often, when she did, it was for only part of the school day. Nevertheless, she managed to take all of the requisite Regents exams, and indeed aced every one of them. In the tenth grade, she decided, three weeks before it was to be given, to take the math Regents. She worked at it through pain and all of the accompanying difficulties and achieved an excellent grade. She was smart, determined, and focused and could not be derailed once she made up her mind to do something.
This determination was with her always, up to the end. Purim came two days before Tehila passed away. Amazingly, she prepared shalach manos for her friends and dressed up in a costume. Looking like a queen – her name, appropriately, was Tehila Malka – she greeted all with her trademark smile and experienced the real essence of Purim, a holiday that reflected her giving nature, her fun-filled spirit, her love of life.
Two days later, Tehila died at home, surrounded by her loving family.
I was right six months ago when I sensed that anything I would write would not adequately describe how precious Tehila was. Six months have not made the challenge easier or, to my regret, produced a better effort on my part. I am certain of this and also that in a true sense Tehila remains alive, not only in the hearts and minds of family and friends, but alive because she continues to inspire and to affect how we look at life and what we do.
Although Tehila is no longer here in a physical sense, she will forever be an integral part of our lives. Tehilaso Omedes Le’Ad.
