What do they ask for, these young, ill children? To forget the pain of their disease for just a few days and enjoy themselves the way healthy kids do on the happiest day of the year: Purim.
Just days after the Succot festivities were over, the program began to take shape. LatetTikva volunteers contacted Kaplan Hospital’s children’s wards, and asked for an updated list of those in the worst medical situations. At the same time, they began coordinating the details of a special trip to Eilat.
The next stage was contacting the children’s families, who were all thrilled with the news. One mother had the following to say:
“The hardest times of the year for us are those festivals that focus on children, and especially Purim,” explained Dana, mother to Yair who has advanced leukemia. “My little boy is in hospital, or occasionally at home, and watches all his neighborhood friends and our relatives smiling and busy with preparing fancy dress costumes and masks, parties and clowns, shows and gift baskets. And only he is left, in pain and suffering, and feeling left out, limited by his disease.
Purim Camp 2013 in Eilat
“I answered a phone call from LatetTikva, and ran to tell Yair. Suddenly his face just filled with color, and he started counting down the days, and that was even before he had any idea of what a LatetTikva camp could be.
“When the long awaited date arrived, we discovered that Purim was just LatetTikva’s excuse. In fact, the camp ran for three days in which Yair and we, his parents, forgot the whole depressing situation and our fears, always present at home and in hospital.
“Three busses were readied to take 75 passengers. We were welcomed by the volunteer counselors, and believe me they are all angels. The next thing we noticed was a nursing staff who’d set up a mobile hospital.
“The whole experience, from the trip to the resort city of Eilat, was so exciting, not to mention the hotel, the Purim party, the clowns and gift packages, the small trips in the area and other attractions in southern Eilat. It was all so much more than just a trip. It was truly a support group.
“Yair and tens of children returned home feeling as though they’d won, they were full of faith, and ready to continue coping. We pray to G-d that Yair will heal, but he’s already thinking of the next LatetTikva camp!” Dana sums up, as she continued praising LatetTikva’s volunteers and activities.
Yossi Shinover, LatetTikva CEO, noted that “LatetTikva’s motto is to give hope and realize the wishes of these young patients. This time we sought to realize dreams of children wanting to present themselves as healthy kids, and therefore chose Purim as the most appropriate time for the camp.”
Shinover praised the cooperation of Professor EttiGranot, Director of the children’s department; OsnatSegev, director of the Kaplan Hospital school for children; the National Civic Service volunteers working with LatetTikva, and the camp director, OhrKhasson, all of whom assist these children year round during the difficult periods of their lives.
View the Purim Camp 2013 Photo Gallery
