Daniel Ashroff pictured with his father Sam Ashroff
Daniel Ashroff is a gifted pianist, a lover of Shakespeare, a self-taught computer programmer, and a dedicated long-time employee of Value Village.
He has also struggled with profound health challenges from the moment he was born.
The first six months of his life were spent in a hospital as he battled a collapsed lung and the effects of a rare genetic disorder. At age four, he was diagnosed with autism, and at age 16 with leukemia — a condition that required three years of chemotherapy and radiation.
At that time, he was told the radiation may cause a brain tumour to develop later in life. In 2023, just before he turned 40, that risk became a reality: Daniel was diagnosed with a large tumour in his brain.
Facing the possibility of brain surgery, Daniel and his family turned to St. Michael’s Hospital — not only a world leader in care for complex brain tumours, but a place where the Ashroff family had received excellent care in the past.
“Our surgeon was Dr. Julian Spears, Head of the Division of Neurosurgery,” says Sam Ashroff, Daniel’s father. “From our very first meeting with him, we knew we were in the presence of a very accomplished and very compassionate person.”
Dr. Spears and his team were able to remove 95% of Daniel’s tumour, with the remaining 5% being treated with radiation.
“This was an incredibly difficult and traumatic time for Daniel and for our family, but Dr. Spears and everyone on the team provided us with so much comfort and reassurance,” Sam says. “We felt completely confident that Daniel would have a positive outcome.”
He was right. Within just a few weeks after his surgery, Daniel had regained his memory, balance, and coordination. And within just two months, he was back at work — and playing the piano entirely from memory.
Although Daniel still faces many ongoing health challenges in his future, his father is proud of his incredible resilience.
“Despite everything he has been through, he is very resilient and remarkably accomplished,” Sam says. “We are immensely proud of him and so grateful that the care he received at St. Michael’s has enabled him to continue pursuing his passions.”
Grateful for his family’s experiences, Sam Ashroff has generously donated to help advance exceptional care at St. Michael’s Hospital. If you are looking for a way to say thanks, join the Ashroff family and make a gift to Thank Your Healthcare Champion! Visit ThankYouStMikes.ca for more information and to donate today.
Donate to St. Michael's Hospital Foundation.
