Cancer crusader honors Dr. Sameer Mahesh with a gift of gratitude

Above: Amy and Dr. Nathan Atterholt, a grateful patient of Dr. Sameer Mahesh.

When Dr. Nathan Atterholt discovered that his Hodgkin’s Lymphoma had returned, he found his way to the Summa Health Cancer Institute and the capable hands of medical director Dr. Sameer Mahesh.

Dr. Mahesh’s compassionate care and clinical excellence inspired Nathan and his wife, Amy, to make a generous gift to Summa Health in his honor.

Nathan, who is an optometrist, was 15 when he first battled Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Living in Ashland County, about an hour west of Akron, the closest place for pediatric chemotherapy and radiation treatment was Akron Children’s Hospital.

“Fast forward to the fall of 2020, and I am 35. I got Hodgkin’s Lymphoma again,” Nathan explained. “That is when my doctor at Akron Children’s recommended Dr. Mahesh at Summa Health.” 

Nathan met the next day with Dr. Mahesh, who promptly started six months of treatment that carried over to early 2021. 

From the earliest days of Nathan’s cancer journey, he felt compelled to help others on the same path, even starting a fundraising organization called the Hillsdale Cancer Crusaders. 

“The group is made up of friends, family and people from our church,” Amy explained. “We started it as a Relay for Life team, a cancer group that raises money for many organizations by hosting four or five events a year. The most popular is the annual golf tournament, which enabled us to donate to Summa Health.” 
 
“We are committed to fundraising because I know there is always a need,” said Nathan. “When I was in Dr. Mahesh’s office, a gentleman was checking in for his appointment. He was a little older than us, and I heard them ask if he had any insurance. He replied that he did not.”

That situation reminded Nathan how generous giving can make a meaningful impact on patients and their families. “Working in health care myself, I know that every little bit can be helpful,” he said.

Honoring Dr. Mahesh with their recent gift was a meaningful way of expressing the couple’s gratitude for his extraordinary care. The Atterholts said they are “so grateful” for Dr. Mahesh. “He is straightforward and will tell you the truth, yet he is so compassionate all the time,” Amy said.

Amy noted that the staff at Dr. Mahesh’s office and the Cancer Institute went out of their way to be accommodating, especially since Nathan’s treatment was during the COVID pandemic. 

“It demonstrated extra care,” said Nathan. “The nurses went above and beyond for us, making it a lot better. They went the extra mile.”

“I call them angels on earth,” Amy added. “They stay positive for the patients, boost Nathan up, and listen to all his concerns. Cancer is terrible, but when you have the best experience at Summa Health in the worst possible situation, that touched us to make a gift to Summa Health in Dr. Mahesh’s honor.”

For more information, contact Summa Foundation at 330.375.3159 or foundation@summahealth.org.