July 15, 2001. Dr. Bracha Zisser typed an entry into her
computer and sighed. Another case of a child in the need of a
bone marrow transplant -- another desperate search. Zisser was
in Oranit [Ezer Mizion's guesthouse for young cancer patients]
manning the world's largest Jewish Bone Marrow Registry. The
search for suitable bone marrow donors is not an easy one.
With the chance of finding a match being just one in 30,000,
the news for most of the 150 patients who call each month is
not good.
However, when the computer started flashing a message, all
such thoughts were banished from Dr. Zisser's mind. Today, she
was witness to a miracle. Today one of the 100,000 potential
donors was found to be a match. There was new hope for a sick
little girl.
Springing into action, Dr. Zisser immediately dialed the
number of the young man that had appeared on the screen.
The response, however, was not what she expected. Doron, the
boy that was found to be a suitable donor, was in the army --
on a "top secret mission" as his mother stated. Undeterred,
Dr. Zisser asked for the officer who is in contact with the
group.
Keeping in mind that time is of essence, she phoned the
Naharia based officer and asked for permission to meet with
Doron and collect his bone marrow stem cells. Once again, the
reply was not encouraging.
"The boy you are speaking about is part of the Sayeret
Hachermon -- a vital and highly secret commando unit. I cannot
possibly imagine the commander of the group allowing one of
its members to leave."
After convincing the officer of the merits of her case - he
agreed to conference Dr. Zisser in to the next conversation
with the group commander.
July 16, 2001. Dr. Zisser picked up the phone anxiously. It
was the call she'd been waiting for -- her chance to save a
little girl's life.
After quick introductions, Dr. Zisser got straight to the
point. Putting the situation as clearly as possible, she
explained why Doron's leave from the army was of utmost
importance. "The hope of this girl lies with Doron. Only HIS
bone marrow can save her life"
Again, the reply was not as she had hoped. The commander
refused to endanger the whole group, stating that it was not
the Army's policy to allow the members of this division to
leave for any personal reason.
Dr. Zisser was stumped. The chance for this little girl's life
was so close, yet so far. Replaying the conversation in her
mind, she tried to find some opening for an argument. Grasping
at straws, she tried again.
"Guri," she said to the commander, "let me talk to you as a
father. Imagine you had a little girl with Leukemia. Each day
you watched her struggle, while the life was slowly being
drained from her fragile body. The doctors say her only hope
is a bone marrow transplant. Although the odds are against
you, you call Ezer Mizion's Registry and hope and pray. After
days of waiting, you get an answer - a match has been found -
there is hope for your daughter. What greater joy can there
be? But then your hopes are dashed. The potential donor is in
the army and can't leave. You'll have to just continue
watching your daughter deteriorate while time runs out."
" I-I-I guess when you put it that way," replied a choked up
Guri, "I can't refuse"
And so, the arrangements were made. Doron was secreted away by
jeep under the cover of night to a prearranged meeting place.
A volunteer of Ezer Mizion -- who lives on a moshav in the
Golan Heights -- was there to meet him and take a vial of
blood for the preliminary testing required before the
transplant. Doron got a leave of absence in the second week of
August for the actual collection of his stem cells.
It was then that the incredible happened.
July 20, 2001. "Hello, Mrs. _______, this is Yonah, may I
speak with David?"
"He recently got married and moved out. May I ask regarding
what you are calling?"
"Well yes. I'm calling from Ezer Mizion. I was working on the
bone marrow registry and I see that your son is a suitable
donor for a child suffering from Leukemia. How can I get in
touch with him?"
"I'm sorry, there must be some mistake, I just got a call
earlier this week regarding my son Doron, but I'm pretty sure
they took care of that already."
"Hmmm. There's no mistake here. The chances are one in a
million and it is a miracle, but it's true, both your
sons have the opportunity to save a life!"
