Nine months after the incident in 3/2025, Mr. Williams has recovered 80% of his health and is planning to return to medical research. Reflecting on his fight for life, the Director of the South Florida Proton Therapy Institute at Delray Medical Center admitted he faced death three times: a solitary fall, an acute brain hemorrhage, and nine days in a deep coma.

The tragedy struck one morning in early March 2025. His wife, Sara, sensed something was wrong when she couldn't reach her husband, prompting her to ask a neighbor to check on him. The neighbor found Mr. Williams lying motionless on the floor with a bruise on his head. The emergency team determined he was experiencing an acute brain hemorrhage. Instead of transporting him to the nearest hospital, the medical team made the crucial decision to transfer him directly to the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Delray Medical Center, his workplace. This decision proved pivotal in saving the doctor's life.

Doctor Tim Williams during a visit to Delray Medical Center in Delray Beach on 2/1. *Photo: Carline Jean*

Upon arrival at the hospital, Mr. Williams's condition rapidly deteriorated. Blood flooded his brain, extended into his spinal cord, and caused severe brain swelling, resulting in a complete loss of consciousness. Neurologists estimated he had only 20-30 minutes to live. Neurosurgeon Ron Young, his colleague, arrived to find Mr. Williams almost unresponsive.

With no time to transfer Mr. Williams to an operating room, Doctor Young swiftly requested a surgical kit and performed an emergency skull drilling procedure right at the bedside. He drilled a small hole in Williams's skull to insert a catheter, draining cerebrospinal fluid and urgently relieving intracranial pressure. A miracle unfolded just minutes later: Mr. Williams began to respond and even speak again. Doctor Young remarked that while brain hemorrhages are common, a patient surviving such a critical progression with an unclear underlying cause, as in this case, is exceptionally rare.

Despite the successful procedure, challenges persisted. Mr. Williams remained in a deep coma for nine days and developed aspiration pneumonia. Upon waking, the renowned cancer specialist faced a harsh reality: a complete loss of motor function. He had to relearn basic movements at a rehabilitation center and struggled with short-term memory loss. After 43 days of intensive treatment, he was finally discharged.

Drawing from his near-death experience, Doctor Williams emphasized the critical importance of receiving emergency care at the appropriate specialized facility. He advises anyone experiencing stroke symptoms to go directly to neurological centers rather than the closest general medical facility, as specialized expertise can be life-saving. "I was in the right place at the right time", he stated.

By Binh Minh (Source: Tampa Bay Times)