Hi, my name is Shira and I am a mother of four k’’h in a small community in northern Israel. My husband, Uri, works as a truck driver for a regional distribution company. He spends many long hours on the road. I work part-time as a kindergarten assistant in the regional council. We lived modestly, but with dignity.
About eight months ago, our eldest son, 12-year-old Yonatan, began complaining of unusual fatigue. He started coming home from school completely exhausted. At first, we thought it might be the flu or a seasonal virus. But after a few weeks, additional symptoms appeared: recurring fevers, pain in his legs, paleness, and small bruises on his body. Our family doctor referred him for urgent blood tests.
A few hours later came the phone call that changed our lives. We were told to come immediately to the emergency room. After a series of tests and hospitalization, it was discovered that Yonatan has leukemia.
Since the diagnosis, Yonatan has been undergoing intensive treatments — chemotherapy and repeated hospitalizations in the pediatric oncology ward, along with complex tests and supportive treatments. He is extremely weak and has had to endure periods of isolation during hospital stays, physical pain, and hair loss.
In order to be by Yonatan’s side during treatments, we have had to completely rearrange our lives. My husband often misses work in order to drive Yonatan to treatments and hospitalizations. I have drastically reduced my work hours so I can stay with him at the hospital. We make frequent trips from the north to central Israel and spend many nights away from home near the hospital. In addition, we must purchase medications and treatments that are not fully covered.
All of this has created a heavy burden on our family. And as if that were not enough, the war in the north suddenly began — something that is strongly felt in our area, with frequent sirens and ongoing security tension.
At home we have three younger children: Noa, age 10; Tamar, age 7, in second grade; and the youngest, Itamar, age 3. We now find ourselves coping with both a serious illness and a complex security situation, while our financial stability continues to erode. Please, Klal Yisroel, we are begging, we are praying that you will help us, to save Yonatan- to give our son a new body, a new life, and to bring him home.
*Photo has been used for illustrative purposes only
