What Insurance Doesn’t Cover
We have relationships with hospital social workers that work in the main hospitals in Jerusalem. Our agents, the social workers, identify those in need and Hands on Tzedakah is given the opportunity to change lives, save lives or at least make it easier for those who have fallen on the most difficult of times. A few stories… (names have been changed)
I. Dialysis patients struggle daily to cope with their debilitating disease and its demanding treatment. This difficult situation is frequently exacerbated by severe financial hardship, often creating overwhelming feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. HOT’s most recent contribution went to a woman who has been on chronic dialysis treatment for the past 25 years. Her physical functioning has been decreasing steadily. She is no longer able to take the bus to her treatments, necessitating taxis as a means of regular transportation. This became an additional burden to her already insufficient budget. The HOT Transportation Fund was able to provide her with funds for taxicab transportation.
II. When a child from a large family is suddenly hospitalized, the entire family is affected. The parents suddenly disappear and spend days and nights away from their other children. It is difficult to keep a job and there are enormous travel and babysitting expenses. Aliza was born with Down syndrome. Her parents were distraught and soon she went home to join her 7 brothers and sisters. Home only a week, she had to go back to the hospital because of breathing problems. She remained on a respirator for weeks in the intensive care unit. Eventually, a tracheostomy was performed and a tube inserted to help with her breathing. The parents live far away from the hospital. It is a two-bus bus ride taking them 1 ½ hours each way. The father is teaching, but earns a minimal salary. The HOT Transportation Fund was able to provide them with funds for taxicab transportation.
III. A social worker from the pediatric oncology department came to us with a special request. Some of the children receiving treatment wanted to tell their families how they feel and some unfortunately want a way to say goodbye before they are unable to. The issue is they do not want to do it face to face. It was decided that digital voice recorders would be a means for the ill children to leave a lasting communication to their parents, to their families. HOT recently purchased the recorders so the children can have a more comfortable way to ‘talk’ to their families about what lies ahead.
