Neriya, a 14-year-old from Yad Benyamin, Israel, faced a life-changing diagnosis of cancer in 2021. Early in their journey, his family felt the warmth of Chaiyanu-Chai Lifeline Israel's support, starting with Chanukah gifts that brought significant relief during a challenging time. Each interaction with Chaiyanu rekindled Neriya's spirit, leaving him vibrant and full of simcha, thanks to the unwavering love and support from the volunteers and new friends he made.
“The hardest part to understand is that his cancer isn't something that can just be removed; it's a part of our lives now, an ongoing challenge we're facing,” reflected Avital, Neriya’s mother. “It isn’t behind us yet.”
Neriya's journey led him to Camp Simcha in Glen Spey, NY, Chai Lifeline’s medically supervised summer program for children battling cancer. "Camp Simcha gave me strength in a powerful way and inspired me to continue to fight, persevere, and move forward,” said Neriya.
During this time, he discovered and honed his talent in singing and songwriting. "I wake up because I have goals, I have dreams, and I plan to achieve them. I try to make a conscious choice every day to be happy even if life hasn't been easy on me. Writing music was a way of expressing my pain, putting it on paper, and helping me feel validated."
Updated February 2024
