The three years old Shira suffers from brain cancer. Her twin brother Elia identifies himself so much with her pain that he
too aches.
Until now the treatments have failed – in the meantime, no matching bone marrow donor has been found for little Shira.
From an article published by the reporter of the Israeli daily newspaper “YEDIOTH AHRONOTH”:
MS. BAT-CHEN EPSTEIN ELIAS
They are only three years old, but the love between them is so strong it hurts: the little SHIRA BAREL suffers from a cancerous tumor, which endangers her life, her twin brother ELIA is terribly influenced by her suffering and even though he is perfectly healthy, his body aches all over.
In the Moshav Achiezer, live together with their parents: Shira, Elia and three other brothers, aged 7, 6, and the 7 months baby.
The twins were born perfectly healthy, but some four months ago, a malignant and dangerous tumor was discovered in little SHIRA’S brain with also metastasis spreading to the spinal cord. SHIRA was hospitalized at the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department of the SAFRA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, CHAIM SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER TEL HASHOMER, ISRAEL, and underwent a brain operation to remove the tumor. Unfortunately, the operation failed and the malignant tumor has continued to develop. As a result, SHIRA has begun to receive radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments.
Her father Yitzhak, who worked until then at two jobs – as a cook in an educational institution and as a driver – has been obliged to resign. With the mother Rocha, both of them try to divide their time between taking care of SHIRA and caring for the other four little ones.
“It is not easy,” the mother says. “The tumor appeared just after the child began to climb stairs on her own and to dance – and now she cannot even walk”. You can see the pain in the eyes of the little SHIRA. Even when she is happy, her eyes do not smile, “She has been through so much,” remarks the mother, who does not leave her little daughter for a moment.
“One month after the surgery, SHIRA would not utter a word, and only when she saw Elia she suddenly started to speak. The relationship between them is amazing, when SHIRA lies in her bed and suffers from such pains; Elia sits by her, holds her hand and tells her in an authoritative voice: you are strong, you are a hero.”
Rocha the mother continues to recount: “When Elia turned 3 y.o., he should have had his first hair cut “Upsherin” [Jewish haircutting ritual ceremony at the age of 3, usually held on the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, in the north of Israel] at Meron. However, we did not manage to take him over there because we were all the time busy at the hospital. So Shira asked why did we agree to give her a haircut but not to her brother. Today, SHIRA can say by herself the names of the medicines that she receives. We all together pray she will be healthy.”
Dr. Michal Yalon is responsible for the treatment of brain tumors at the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department of the SAFRA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. According to her, the most effective treatment in such cases is self–bone marrow transplant that is from the patient himself, but in the case of SHIRA, this treatment has failed: “we have not been able to find a matching donor even amongst one of her brothers, even her twin brother is not fully compatible.” Dr. Yalon continues to explain: “the preferred option is to give her an innovative medication, which acts in a similar way. Should the medication
not work, we shall have to turn and search for an outside donor.”
Since the head of the family stopped working, the family has found itself in a difficult financial situation. The parents have tried to get help from everyone and anyone they know. The parents told us “The community here is very supportive and they are all such friends, but how much help can you keep asking again and again?”
In spite of all the difficulties, the parents try to be strong for their children, and especially for SHIRA.
“She is so little and so sweet, she does not understand why so many instruments are connected to her body and what for,” her father says. “She wants to have fun in a playground and enjoy herself like all the kids of her age.”
“THE HASDEI NAOMI” ORGANIZATION volunteers have opened a special account to donate in order to save the life of SHIRA.
Please note that donations are a recognized tax-deductible expense as per paragraph 46 of the Tax Regulations.
To contribute:
Please call the hub center free number 1-800-677-777
Please visit “THE HASDEI NAOMI” ORGANIZATION trusted site: http://www.naomi.org.il
By “SMS”: Please send an “SMS” message with the words “Donation to number 2288”
To obtain updates and news about SHIRA BAREL, please check the site: http://www.shirab.co.il