Hila (part two)
Recap: A young couple become parents for the first time but the script is not what they expected. The baby is diagnosed with Downs and also needed difficult cardiac surgery lasting 7 hours.
We thought the worst was behind us, but in Tishrei, at the height of the Corona, when Hila was a year and a half old, she needed an operation to expand her trachea. In the course of the operation, something important was damaged. In the recovery room, she simply crashed. We found ourselves sitting on the steps outside the hospital because of the Corona restrictions, when all of a sudden, they called us inside urgently. Hila was unconscious, sedated and intubated again in the ICU. The doctors feared irreversible brain damage.
For ten days, we were in limbo. I can’t even describe the emotional roller coaster we were in. Ten days later, the Creator did a great miracle for us and the unbelievable happened: Sweet little Hila woke up and started gaining strength.
At age two and a half, it appeared that we’d finally fallen into a routine. Our precious Hila, a girl who was full of light, sweetness, intelligence, sensitivity, and love, entered Gan, singing, playing, bringing home precious arts and crafts… just like her peers. Her bodily systems started to stabilize and we began to hope.
But around Passover, Hila again started getting sick. The doctors said everything was all right, but a new pediatrician in the clinic insisted: “I don’t know you, but I’m a hematologist by profession and I don’t like the numbers on her blood test results.” Right after Passover, the blood tests showed that her hemoglobin had dropped at a drastic and life-threatening rate. It turned out that this doctor was the messenger of Hashem to save our dear Hila. He told us to rush to the ER to get a lifesaving blood transfusion. After two months of fever and repeated tests, we came for a bone marrow test.
The diagnosis was frightening: AML, a violent, aggressive form of leukemia that usually appears in adults.
We began chemotherapy. At the height of the treatment, Hila experienced system collapse. Her little body could not handle the chemo.. The doctors told us the situation was critical. We should begin to say goodbye. But we were her parents. We’d never give up. Only the Creator can determine the fate of our child.We would give our all for the recovery of the child who is our entire world.
Elior and I prayed non-stop. Along with us, many thousands of people prayed for her every single day, took upon themselves resolutions, people who didn’t know her said that the girl had simply captured their heart and they were strengthening themselves in so many areas – for her recovery!
We also understood that the energies we’d transmit to our beloved little girl were critical for her recovery. We didn’t leave her bedside for a full month, day or night. We said to her: “Hila, the doctors are good emissaries, but Hakadosh Baruch Hu is the only one who can cure you.” It was High Holidays. Awesome days.
On Erev Yom Kippur, the miracle occurred! Hila started breathing on her own!
The medical staff asset her up for long months of rehab, but the very next day, Hila was already standing on her feet and getting back to herself with wondrous strength. We tangibly saw how emunah (faith) and tefillot (prayer) actively change destinies!!! (to be continued)
