The Sheba Medical Center at Tel Ha’Shomer sets an example for women’s empowerment.
This week, at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, in Beverly Hills, California, over 400 supporters, members of Friends of Sheba Medical Center at Tel Ha’Shomer and their friends lunched together and honored Judy Flesh Rosenberg, with Women of Achievement Award, and Dvorah Colker, with Marjorie Pressman Legacy Award. The obvious should be mentioned here that both women support the work of Sheba and tirelessly work to promote and support the betterment of the people in Israel and the people in their own local communities.
Sheba Medical center is a dedicated work place for women in the medical profession and research who hold achievements’ record in their various medical fields, are known for their work excellence and are working to advance this medical center that has become an exemplary to the world.
I am a woman and I write and what I write I share with many others. I believe that the exposure I often give to Sheba Medical Center brings to light the medical treatments and research performed there, as well as helps, tidbit, to advance what Sheba does best, gives the sick and wounded a glimpse of hope and the world a healthier life perspective.
But this story is about how the money, the supporters of Sheba continuously contribute, works.
The Sheba Medical Center at Tel Ha’Shomer is a university-affiliated tertiary referral hospital that serves as Israel's national medical center in many fields. One field is medical research.
In Sheba Medical Center they are not held back to take advantage of medical breakthrough treatments that may save one more life.
This is the case of Tamir Gilat, the former goalkeeper for the Maccabi Tel Aviv Israel national league soccer team; a young man who became a cancer patient, diagnosed with cancer that attacked several of his major organs. Tamir was told the dreading news that his life is about to end; for Tamir it was the ‘gospel of Job’, an unfortunate bad and news. But Tamir’s Sheba Medical team, headed by oncologist Dr. Talia Golan, yes a woman, did not surrender. The ‘temerity’ of Tamir’s doctors to go the extra mile for him and treat him with immunotherapy drug, adding to it Tamir’s mind over matter to live, gave him the defying the odds power. He maybe miraculously walking among us, much due to the treatment and the superb care he received at Sheba.
At that time the immunotherapy drug Tamir received wasn’t yet approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Dr. Talia Golan, a member of the Sheba Medical Center’s oncology medical team is an oncologist and researcher. Along with her oncology colleague, Nurse Maya Krekheli, both women were awarded the prestigious 2017 Danielle Prize-Healing with a Heart. The prize was given at an inspiring ceremony led by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and his wife at their residence in Jerusale.
For Tamir Gilat, Dr. Talia Golan is a saving angel who took him out of darkness.
At present Tamir is acting the Chairman of Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF); he is only one of Sheba’s such cases, which he shared with the 400 luncheon’s participants. This Medical Center, a small self-sufficient medical town in the heart of Israel, has saved many lives after the persons were diagnosed that their life could not be extended.
Tamir’s rather experimental immunotherapy treatment that Sheba applied beyond the conventional treatment, gave him a new lease on life.
The special cost angle
While Sheba offers advanced treatments, even experimental ones, at a high but reasonable cost, in another medical center abroad the very same treatment would at a greater cost by thousands of dollars.
Israel’s accomplishments in a hostile world
Each week Michael Ordman sends a compilation of good news from Israel. Israel’s accomplishments and the incredible contribution to the welfare of the entire world is dazzling.
We may all ask: what can account for the proliferation of groups in the science, arts and academies that libel, defame and seek to boycott Israel, but benefit so much from all of Israel’s incredible medicine, technology and science achievements? We have not yet figured out that aspect, no answer yet, but in spite of it all Israel survives, thrives and moves the world forward in the most positive direction.
Here is what may be an apocryphal tale with the ring of truth: In the late 19th century, Queen Victoria of England asked Benjamin Disraeli, the son of a Sephardic Jewish Italian mercantile background family, with the 1st Earl of Beaconsfield title, who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom the following question: “Mr. Prime Minister, what evidence can you give me of the existence of God?”
Disraeli thought for a moment and then replied, “The Jew, your majesty.”
Support means selfishlessly serving others
Supporting medical research brings about the healing of the body and may also bring about the world’s new lease on life.“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi. Sheba Medical Center at Tel Ha’Shomer loses itself in the service of many others.
Writer’s note: one huge accolade to the Friends of Sheba Medical Center USA West Cost team, headed by Mr. Parham Zar, its current president, a leading team of making this special Medical Center greater than it is already.
