RMH

A planned, short two-year stay in Canada to complete post-doctoral studies began to unravel in the most cruel of ways for Uri, his wife and their young son.

The nightmare began when the couple noticed their son’s body was becoming speckled with tiny bruises resembling mosquito bites. Two-year-old Rotem also began complaining that his legs were sore.

A trip to the emergency room in Saskatoon revealed something was wrong, but the diagnosis remained unconfirmed.

The couple consulted with family and friends in their native Israel.  “They told us the best place to for him was SickKids Hospital,” says Uri.

The family was transported to Toronto by air ambulance where Rotem spent a week in hospital  undergoing further tests.  “If you look back and now that we have read so much, there were lots of signs that were actually very clear,” says Lihi. 

Just days shy of his second birthday, Rotem was dignosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (A-L-L), a type of blood cancer. “Doctors told us if we had to choose a cancer, this would be the best one to pick,” says Uri.

"WE ARE LUCKY" 

During their first two weeks in Toronto, the family lived with friends in the city, commuting more than two hours daily to medical appointments downtown. The couple had begun to discuss possibly mortgaging their home in Israel to rent a place closer to SickKids. Then a hospital social worker told them about Ronald McDonald House Toronto.

“I was quite amazed. I was very surprised at how beautiful it is and immediately I knew we should be here,” says Uri. “I said to myself, this I heavenly. We are lucky. We are going to be fine.” 

“Your whole world is falling apart. I was so overwhelmed with all the emotion and stress. And to come here --- it’s a beautiful place,” says Lihi, her eyes filled with tears. “I needed some kind of normal life in this whole mess.  To be there it’s much easier to get used to it.  You meet other families and then you can connect.  It’s exactly what you need.”

"THIS HOUSE MAKES HIM HAPPY."

The first 6-10 months of treatment is the most critical for A-L-L patients.  Rotem  receives chemotherapy treatments four times a week in-hospital, and additional doses in the suite he and his family occupy at the House.

“Our room has been was life-saving.  He was waking three times a night and wanted to eat. We had to run to the kitchen to make his food. Now we are grateful to have a kitchen in our room,” says Lihi. “For Rotem, it’s the best place cause it is so organized for children.  He really feels like home here.  He called it hotel hospital, hotel home, now it’s home. This House makes him happy.”

“You can’t do anything for their health, but you can help their spirit.  The House gives you the best set-up to deal with the situation,”says Uri. “The details, there is lots of thought put into everything.  You can feel how people have organized it.  Exactly what you need, play activities for the children, the games room, the kitchen.”

His wife adds, “when I was told my son has cancer, my whole world turned upside down. I used to take everything for granted. You worry about money.  You don’t worry about whether he’s going to live or not.  I lost my confidence in life, but I gained my confidence in people. When I came here and meet people who volunteer, give and make food and other things, I learn how to appreciate people.”

Rotem's treatment is slated to finish in March 2013, one month after the couple's second baby is due.