Rafi, a seven-year-old from Cherry Hill, NJ, suffered from a life-threatening illness, and his best chance for survival was through a bone marrow transplant. Fortunately, his youngest brother was an exact match to be his bone marrow donor. He will be monitored his whole life for any short- and long-term complications. Rafi reflects, "My parents did everything they could to make sure I got the best medical care available and that my siblings and I would be okay and that we would get through this. I will never forget how my baby brother, Akiva, donated his marrow to me and saved my life." Chai Lifeline provided Rafi with medicine that hospitals and doctors could not provide.
Rafi attended Camp Simcha, Chai Lifeline's medically supervised overnight camp experience. Year-round, Rabbi Duvy Feiler, Camp Simcha Boys Associate Head Counselor, is always a call away and helps Rafi when he needs support. Rafi shares, "My counselor, Isaac, has become like the big brother I never had. He taught me how to be a kid again after a year of being all alone in hospitals. My parents together with my friends at Chai Lifeline got me through very hard times."
Updated February 2024
