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Esther and Einat - Linked for Life
| Miracles happen frequently at Schneider Children's where cutting-edge therapies bring renewed life and hope to critically ill children. As if to underscore the miraculous advances of modern medicine, and to epitomize acts of human righteousness across the oceans, a unique and unforgettable event at took place at the medical center recently, when bone marrow donor Esther Ciechanowski, 33, from Melbourne, Australia, met with the young girl whose life she had literally saved, Einat Zinger, 15, from Petach Tikvah. |
Einat had contracted leukemia three years previously and a stem cell transplant was her only hope of survival. A donor match was found - Esther Ciechanowski had fortuitously registered as a potential donor in 1993, having seen members of her own family fight cancer. "I would do anything to help anyone; the ultimate objective is to show everyone by my own example. When I was approached, there was no question in my mind that I would proceed despite the difficult physical side-effects that accompanied the procedure."
| Although neither knew anything about the other, a combination of chance coincidences brought them together at Schneider Children's, almost a year to the day that Esther's blood was flown to Israel in a desperate attempt to save Einat's life. The two hugged and the tears flowed, not only by Esther and Einat, but by staff and guests alike. "All I heard was that there was an Israeli girl who needed a transplant and I did not hesitate for a moment," said Esther to Einat. |
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"I believe that anyone who can help others does not have a choice, and I am glad that I could help you, because it is not only a gift for you but for me too!"
"I am very moved to be at this incredible meeting," said Dr. Jerry Stein, Director of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit at Schneider Children's. "Esther's willingness to help Einat through the stem cell donation is exemplary and laudable. Hundreds of transplants have been conducted in our Unit over the years and I hope that this act will help raise awareness about the importance of registration in the world registry of potential bone marrow donors."
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