A Passover Prayer of Gratitude and Hope

On Sunday February 25^th, I connected on an international flight from Dallas to Israel. Milan, Italy was the city where our flight connected. As we passed through the airport, we were greeted by five people wearing hazmat suits and checking the temperatures of every person passing through.

On Tuesday, February 27^th, I received my 8^th stem cell infusion as part of my MS treatment program at Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) in Jerusalem, operated by Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA).

HMO Sr. Neurologist Dr. Dimitrios Karussis, whose revolutionary stem cell therapy has been my treatment protocol, has been my beacon of hope. He gave me back my life.

We were back in Dallas by Thursday, February 29^th. We arrived within a week of Italy closing the Milan airport. I was treated two weeks before Israel required a 2-week quarantine period for anyone traveling into the country.

I returned to Dallas just two weeks before my son Zach’s wedding. Until this treatment, my MS symptoms had gotten so bad, I was unable to walk through my house, even with a walker. When I returned, I was able to walk again on the treadmill for 5 minutes. That was a gift that HMO made possible.

The Talmud says that if you save one life, that you save the world. HMO saved my life, and gave me joy I could never have had without their help. As I danced with my son at his wedding recently, I cried. I wished that every person who has ever made a donation to Hadassah Medical Organization could know the difference you are making in the lives of people like myself.

This Passover, my husband David and I had our Seder at home with just the two of us. We added to the traditional prayers two additional ones. First, we pray for your health at this difficult time in our country and the world. The second will be the Mi Shebeirach, the traditional Jewish prayer of healing.

I’ve experienced the renewal of body and spirit. I now hope to make my life a blessing by volunteering for Hadassah and volunteering at Dallas Children’s Hospital to give their young patients a reason to smile and to hope.

Thank you, Hadassah for everything you’ve done for me personally, and for the healing you do every day for the land and people of Israel.