What People Say

"In August 2004, our 16-year old daughter Inbal Chaya began complaining about a number of seemingly unconnected health problems. At the beginning of September, she underwent a painful battery of CT scans and diagnostic tests at the Hadassah Hospital. We were handed the harrowing verdict: a large tumour diagnosed as a stage-3 type-B Lymphatic Lymphoma, was quietly, maliciously expanding beneath her sternum, crushing one lung and squeezing her trachea aside.

The prognosis for the cancer she is afflicted has forced our family into a steep learning curve of coping with enormous stress. Zichron Menachem, The Israeli Organization for the Support of Children with Cancer and their Families, has come to our assistance in easing the burdens in a myriad of ways since we were first faced with Inbal's illness; from sending young women performing their National Service, visiting with Inbal daily to aid and cheer her; to hosting our four other younger children at the Day Centre."

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Vered says that Miri and Haim from ZM gave her endless strength when, three years ago, her son Roy , then 10, was diagnosed with cancer.

"He had every complication that was possible to have and spent seven months at Hadassah and another seven months as an outpatient at Alyn," a renowned rehab centre for children. He lost 40 percent of his body weight. He was too weak to walk. He was fed by tube."

When Roy - weighing about 45 pounds - was released from the hospital, he began to spend time at ZM and went on trips with children like himself. "Being at Zichron Menachem gave him confidence, and he loved being with other children who shared the same history."

Last November, Roy celebrated his barmitzvah. Zichron Menachem staffers and volunteers were among those celebrating. "If there is a heaven, these people deserve a place there," the proud mother says. "I have no words to describe my gratitude."