My Story: A Community of Mitzvot

No good story should ever go untold; this is mine: a  few months before a trip to Florida, I was contemplating my purpose in life—wondering what goals I should be pursuing to make my mark on society. I was looking for something more than just being the monarch of help at my family’s side—which, by the way, is a 24/7 job!

I soon realized that my life is not solely about me, and that my accomplishments and self-worth aren’t achieved single-handedly. Hashem has given us all the ability to help each other. Working together is one of the greatest mitzvot. I believe we all have a hidden need and desire to help one another.

How did I come to this simple yet profound conclusion? It started the first morning I awoke in Florida. I was praying fervently, with tears in my eyes, during the Amida, asking Hashem to help me find a mitzvah to do. I was feeling a void in my life and had decided that fulfilling mitzvot must be what life is really about. I had gone to Florida for a well-needed rest, which I didn’t get, because Hashem answered my prayer instantly.

That same day I found myself waiting in Mt. Sinai Hospital of Miami, with a friend whose husband was undergoing exploratory surgery. He is a cancer patient who had been in remission. Symptoms started reappearing and every test was done, but nothing could account for his inability to keep food or liquids down. Soon the surgeon came to explain that he had a very rare form of cancer that is extremely hard to detect. They told us there was nothing more they could do and numbered his days. The hospital kept him for a few days to try and stabilize an already frail and weakened patient. Tubes were attached to take fluids out of his body and tubes to try and put nutrients back in. This process took a lot of time and patience on the part of his wife, who became a true champion and caretaker. She stepped up to the plate, with bat in hand, and is still playing the game with all her heart and soul. Everyone is so proud of her!

Now the real story is about to begin. When they returned to their Florida home, with all the equipment sent from the hospital, things didn’t go smoothly. Hatzalah was called several times a day for assistance, because no one could work the equipment properly. It was like the patient was drowning in his own fluids. He was losing weight, weakening, and uncomfortable and no one was getting any sleep.

Another friend, a cousin, a sister of the patient and I found ourselves troubleshooting in the middle of the night, trying to find a quick solution to this living nightmare. Nothing made sense. What could we do to make things more comfortable for him and his wife, who was now at her wits end? Even the nurse’s aide couldn’t handle the equipment. We realized we had to get him home to New Jersey to his oncologist and his family. We refused to give up on him, but we had a few obstacles in our way. One, before we could take him home, we had to figure out what hospital we would take him to once we got there; and two, he was too ill to return home on a commercial flight.

The patient absolutely needed to be in a hospital once he got back to NJ, to stabilize and strengthen him, as well as reevaluate and confirm his situation. Another problem, his oncologist was not affiliated with any hospital in NJ or Brooklyn.

The ball started to roll when his cousin suggested we call someone associated with Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn who could possibly help get him admitted there. Because he had no doctor associated with the hospital, this was an ordeal. We contacted another gentleman from SBH and a doctor from our community, all of whom worked together, literally around the clock for days, to make this happen.

We created a plan—all we had to do was get him home. We worked day and night looking for an affordable medical air transport but we were unsuccessful. To our astonishment, a distinguished community philanthropist arranged for private and complementary jet service to NY. This was not an easy feat, because it was President’s Day week and air and landing space was completely booked! Plus, the patient couldn’t fly unassisted—he needed professional care, people who could run his equipment. Thankfully, two Hatzalah volunteers from Brooklyn hopped on a flight to Florida to help stabilize and then return with the patient. All of this occurred within a 36 hour time period and every move had to be synchronized and orchestrated to the littlest detail in order to get him back safely.

A special and private ambulance met the jet in NY and drove them one and a half hours to Maimonides Hospital. Once in the emergency room, the patient and his family were greeted by all the people who made this miracle happen. Their commitment was unbelievable! They were all by the patient’s side until after he was admitted to a room and through the entire duration of his stay. An inhouse oncologist was assigned and as soon as he was able, he would be transported to his own oncologist in Queens for treatment.

The next question was: where to set up house after the hospital. His own home in NJ was too far to commute for daily treatment. Thus, another miracle happened. A family member of the patient set up a fully equipped apartment in Brooklyn so they could commute more easily.

Thanks to the help of our community members, this man is back home being wheeled to shul and sitting at his Shabbat table with his family. He is truly a living miracle! I must commend him for his quiet determination and great will. Also for his positive outlook and galactic strength which has made all of us stronger, as well.

I would like to thank the following people who were purposely not referenced by name in this story. Every single one helped selflessly and without a second’s hesitation. They are all shining examples of what we are all capable of, if we truly put all our efforts forthright. They have shown me, in particular, that there is light at the end of the tunnel and none of us are ever alone. They are extra-ordinary community members who I will always feel indebted to and who will always remain in my mind and heart.

They are people who I would have previously thought of as ordinary, but I understand now that none of us are ordinary. We are blessed by Hashem to be otherwise—if we choose. We should embrace and use this blessing to our fullest!

Thank you Gabe Haber, our Maimonides connection; Alan Esses SBH and Hatzalah volunteer; Zelig Gitelis, Flatbush Hatzalah Coordinator and paramedic Rose and Ralph Nakash for use of their family jet; Dr. Jason Esses, doctor of all trades; Tuni Cohen, the patient’s dedicated sister; Vivi Dweck, a true friend with perfect advice; Joey Betesh, helpful cousin; Eddie Sutton, committed friend and his mother-in-law Sally Ashkenazi for the apartment.

And thank you to all his friends and family who have been there and supported him with true friendship!

“We must look to Hashem for our strength, and he will turn us toward each other to find it.” That’s my story and that’s what it’s all about.