MUM SHAINA EXPLAINS:
Last Rosh Hashanah my husband Aryeh and I, along with our two daughters Lilly-Rose and Naavah, were boarding a plane to spend Yom Tov with my in-laws in France – our last trip before everything changed. I was five months pregnant with Oriyah and we were all so excited.
This year looks so different. We won’t be holding our children’s hands walking to shul, instead Oriyah’s first head surgery is planned for September to relieve pressure on her optic nerve. The exact date is still unknown – it might even be on Rosh Hashanah itself, but it is likely we will be in hospital over the festivals. This is the first of multiple surgeries that she will need.
When you’re in the thick of it, asking for help can feel impossible. A few dear friends reached out to Camp Simcha and got the conversation started. Our Camp Simcha family liaison officer, has been by our side ever since, putting in place everything from therapeutic art and counselling to crisis meals, hospital transport to retreat, parties and outings.
