The Bar-El family – dad, mom, and five sweet children – lived their lives happily until one day, when their daughter Shira fell ill. They thought it must be one of the common childhood ailments until tests showed them that Shira, three years old, had brain cancer.
Their lives were turned upside down. Shira's father had to quit his job so that he could be with her in the oncological ward at Tel HaShomer Hospital. His wife has to find time to visit the hospital and also raise the other four children.
Several weeks ago, Shira underwent head surgery. After a difficult recovery the cancer was back, and it metastasized toward her spinal column. Shira now needs expensive medical treatment and the Bar-El family does not know where it will get the money. “She is so small and sweet, and does not understand what all the devices connected to her body are. She wants to play in the playground like all the other children,” her father says.
The Bar-El family will have to vacate its apartment soon because its financial situation makes it impossible to keep up with the rent payments. The medicines Shira needs are not covered by the State's “health basket” and the Bar-Els have taken loans from everyone they were able to turn to.
The volunteers at the Chasdei Naomi charity are launching a fundraising campaign and asking people to open their hearts to help save Shira Bar-El. Residents of Israel can contribute 10 shekels simply by sending a text message with the Hebrew word תרומה to number 2288. Tax-free donations can also be made through a special website: http://www.shirab.co.il/len/