A young man sits in a chair for hours. He is attached to a machine that is filtering stem cells from his blood. It’s a comfortable chair and his every need is met. But there is a yearning within him that cannot be satisfied. Soon a little bag of his stem cells will be brought to a different floor where someone is waiting. He has never met that someone. He knows no more than the gender and age of the someone but he feels a deep connection. He knows the someone is feeling tremendous tension at this moment and he longs to reassure him and tell him that it is going fine and he will soon be receiving that little bag of life. He so much would want to be there at that moment when the bag arrives and life – his life – is transplanted into the someone. He wants to hold hands during the moments when they will be becoming blood brothers.
But he can’t. It’s not allowed. Something about international law. They will not be allowed to meet for at least a year. His yearning is strong. It must be satisfied at last partially. So he does the next best thing. He communicates. He writes a note.
How are you?
I’m A., from the bone marrow donation.
I thought that perhaps I’d tell you a little bit about myself, so we could begin to get acquainted with each other — only if you want to, of course.
I’m 24, married to R. and waiting, at this very time, for our first birth, G-d willing. I am studying at Yeshivat Ohr Etzion and my wife is a ninth grade homeroom teacher at the Ulpanah.
I served in the army in the paratroopers’ unit. It was in the army that what brought us together took place — the donation.
Let me tell you a bit of how it was on my part.
One Sunday, I got a call from Ezer Mizion, asking me to get back to them. Already then, I started getting excited: Maybe I was lucky enough to have been found to be a match for a donation?
Indeed, they informed me on the phone that an initial match was found between us for a donation. I felt as if I’d won the lottery, and even more; it was such a great privilege.
Of course, I did the entire process, which you probably are more familiar with than I am, and the whole thing is going smoothly and easily.
Wishing you robust health and much happiness!
There are many donations taking place in Ezer Mizion’s new state of the art Harvesting Center. Next door another note is being written.
Dear patient,
I am sure that you have gone through tough things. First of all, I want you to know that you are a real hero! To fight this cursed illness and not to give up is not something that is self-understood.
I hope that the stem cell transplant will help you carry on an easy, free, and normal life. I hope that you recover as fast as possible and that you will be able to return to your family, children, and grandchildren (if you have any).
May you know only happiness, good health, joy, success, and, most important, optimism. Enjoy life and utilize it well, because who knows better than you do that we only have one life to live.
I hope that, one day, I’ll be able to meet you and get to know you.
With great love to you whom I have never met but already feel to be a brother ,
Your donor
