Two sets of needs. Two modes of operation. Two departments. But ONE team. One team whose only criteria, absorbed from Ezer Mizion’s founder, Rav Chananya Chollak, is ‘How can we be of the most help?’
Ezer Mizion with its many divisions works as one well-oiled machine. Sara Rosenthal with her team at the Cancer Support Division expounds on her gratitude to the Ambulance Division with whom they work quite frequently.
The fleet of ambulances is large but limited. The staff and volunteers are many but again, limited. The hours in the day are also limited. And so each night, the schedule for the next day is worked out precisely to maximize the service provided.
The cancer support division works differently. It, too, plans very carefully but emotions cannot be planned for. Often those involved in creating a bit of warmth, of light in the black darkness of the battle with cancer find a need cropping up unexpectedly. And often it is the Transportation Division that they must turn to. The Transportation Division with its carefully planned schedule. “Are you able to…?”
Frustration? Resentment? Never! Always a gracious, compassionate response as they methodically begin to move the pieces of their Rubiks Cube – like schedule. Move this here and that there. A lunch break happily surrendered. An earlier start. Create a space. Something from nothing.
A few examples:
- There was an Ezer Mizion event scheduled in Jerusalem for cancer patients and their families. Ezer Mizion would be transporting wheelchair – bound patients plus all the equipment. A truly overloaded day! But there was a terminally ill young girl living in Beitar. And she wanted badly to go. Can we say no? A dedicated driver was recruited who drove to Beitar, picked up the wheelchair-bound girl and her family, drove them to the event in Jerusalem and drove them back again at day’s end with a song in his heart and gratitude for the opportunity to bring some sunshine into their lives.
- In recent days, several children had been struggling with cancer. Ezer Mizion has been the rock of support for them and their families. In several cases, as the parents realized that the child was about to die, Ezer Mizion was called on to bring close family members to say goodbye. A request was sent to the Transportation Division. The response, without any hesitation, was with the greatest compassion and an immediate yes. Despite their tight schedule, our transport team instantly rose to the call and were there for the families in their darkest hours. Besides the practical juggling, there is the tremendous emotionally draining strain. How do they do it?!
- A terminally ill boy is scheduled to fly to the US for treatment together with his family. The atmosphere in their home is filled with despair, sadness, fear. They desperately needed a drop of positivity, a sense of empowerment, a bit of hope. Rx: a trip to Netanya. The whole family piled into a wheelchair accessible van to enjoy a day filled with outdoor activities, sea sports, treats and pampering, Ezer Mizion style. All the while, the Ezer Mizion driver accompanied them, the entire day, from place to place, patiently and pleasantly, through their return to Jerusalem.
Thank you, Transportation Team, for sharing in our mutual goals of support for those facing life’s crises regardless of extremely challenging scheduling issues. May we continue to work together until the arrival of Moshiach when our services will no longer be needed.
