Notnim Tikva: Giving Hope to Kids with Cancer in Israel - Photo Essay

New York, N.Y.  I first met the dynamic Sara Kremer at an event for her organization Notnim Tikva (“Giving Hope”) along with the Israel Counsel General in New York, H.E. Ido Aharoni.  I was impressed enough to want to meet her again a few months later when her organization hosted a benefit sponsored by the Brooklyn Nets.  I had never met a woman who ran cancer care for Jewish and Palestinian families of children in Israel and I was impressed by her compassion and strength.  In her words, she cared about “Children!,” regardless of their faith.

A Notnim Tikva volunteer cheers up a young patient in a cancer ward in Israel.

Sara explained the importance of her donors:

Adopting children is a great Mitzvah and act of loving-kindness.  Thanks to those who contribute, we can make the families’ lives a bit easier and improve the children’s’ quality of-life – even when they are bed-ridden – and give them strength to continue their struggle.

The dynamic Sara Kremer stumping in NYC for Notnim Tikva (“Giving Hope”) .

The Notnim Tikva (Giving Hope) non-profit organization was established in 2004 to provide assistance and accompaniment to young cancer patients and their families.  About 2,500 children are treated daily at the Tel Hashomer Medical Center; 1,500 in oncology, 600 in ER and rehabilitation and the rest for anorexia.  Approximately 30-40 children die every year from cancer and 60-70 new patients are admitted to the department.

When discovering a terminal illness, the child and his family experience a state of shock and the need to deal with the unknown.  A young cancer patient endures physical and mental suffering and the parents, who are expected to serve as protection, suffer a sense of helplessness and have difficulty in dealing with their child and his illness.

The Notnim Tikva non-profit organization provides services at the Tel Tel Hashomer Medical Center, the largest medical center in the Middle East, that include activities such as:

Flying patients abroad for treatments and surgery, 4-5 flights a year at a minimum cost of =$100,000 per flight = $500,000.

Providing financial help to fund medications and/or treatments that are not included in the basic health insurance, for 10 children a year=$65,000.

Daily distribution of meals to parents who are residing in the hospital with their children = $185,000.

Distributing coffee and sandwiches to parents who are residing  in the hospital with their children = $118,000.

Mental support by a professional team = $45,000.

Organizing outings and vacations for the children and their families, 25-30 families, four times a year, total of 160 people = $95,000.

The total cost of vital services for 1,000 children and their families is $1,008,000.  This equals $1,008 a child per year = less than $3 a child per day.  Notnim Tikva – “Giving Hope” – is also looking for partners to help the children and their families.

Families have to deal with mobility issues, such as getting to treatments at medical and rehabilitation centers, and even to family events, throughout the country, and need to privately fund transportation for their sick children.

Notnim Tikva hopes to purchase an ambulance that would alleviate this expense for the parents and enable us to transport the children to wherever they need, professionally and safely.  The cost of purchasing an ambulance is $85,000, in addition to annual upkeep (gas, driver, paramedic, insurance and garage services) of $32,000, totaling $117,000.

The goal of the Notnim Tikva non-profit organization is to provide endless voluntary support, day and night, for the welfare of the sick children and their families and, as well, to improve the quality of their lives through personal guidance and attention to all their needs, in order to alleviate, as much as possible, the mental, medical and financial burden of the families.

The author attending a Notnim Tikva (“Giving Hope”)  charity event at Barclay Center, NYC.

Notnim Tikva (Giving Hope) , established 2004.

In Israel, 9th Micha Street | P.O. Box 3369 | Bnei Brak 51133 | Tel: 972-3-6167911

In U.S., Congregation Keren Orah (Tax I.D. 23-709-8648)

See Stories by Jim Luce on:

Children   |    Health   |    Israel and Israeli-Americans

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