“He’s playing in bed with his animals,” she says of the 3-year-old Etan, who is recovering from a May 8 kidney transplant at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. She and her husband, Yossi, have been trading off 24-hour shifts spent either with Etan or with their other two young children.
“His new kidney works very well, and he is in a very good mood,” says Yifat. “We hope he can go home today.”
Etan, who speaks only Hebrew, mimics his mother. “Today, today,” he squeals excitedly.
By home, Yifat is not referring to the family’s actual home in Mevohoron, a village near Modi’in in the center of Israel. She means their temporary Palo Alto home offered to them by a South Bay Jewish family that has been vacationing in Israel and will return this week.
With the help of others in the South Bay Jewish community, this week the Shrikis expect to move into another temporary home for the next two months.
“They’re far from home; they don’t know anybody and have major medical needs,” said Menlo Park resident Meryl Urdang, who has been coordinating volunteers to help the family. Her daughter, Sara Tannenbaum, adopted the Shrikis as her mitzvah project and asked those who came to her May 3 bat mitzvah to bring food and toys for the family.
Meanwhile, Chabad of the Greater South Bay has been helping the family get kosher meals, while individual donors have raised $3,500. Others have donated furniture for the current home and a car that fits five. Soon they’ll need one that fits six.
Urdang, who learned of their plight in the newsletter of Reform Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, said those who are interested in helping the family can contact her at (650) 322-5208.
“There is a sense of calmness about them in spite of what they’re dealing with,” she said. “Their perspective on things is admirable.”
The Orthodox family of five — with another one due as of press time — came to Stanford in March so Etan could get his new kidney. While these transplants are common in Israel, they are not usual among young children, said Yossi. He heard Stanford was the best facility, and he wanted the best for Etan, whose kidney malfunction was detected when he was still in his mother’s womb.
The Shrikis raised money from family members and friends and found a donor with a compatible kidney, a 20-year-old cousin of Etan’s who flew in from Israel before the Shrikis arrived in the United States.
But they still faced and continue to face many difficulties, such as finding housing to last them until the end of the year (when they hope to return to Israel), medical supplies and other necessities.
Yossi said his family is appreciative of the community’s outpouring of support.
“It’s very helpful,” he said. “So I can only say thank you.”
Etan learned the meaning of the word “today” on May 23, when he did indeed get to go home, but his mood was not quite as cheerful when he first woke up in his hospital bed earlier this month.
“He was sad and angry after the surgery and wanted to know why they cut his stomach,” said Yossi, who, along with his wife, was “very nervous” during the six-hour surgery.
But once his father explained that Etan’s stomach was cut open so doctors could put in a new kidney the 3-year-old felt much better.
“I told him that now he could go to kindergarten and he wouldn’t need dialysis anymore,” said Yossi.
Before his transplant Etan underwent dialysis treatment three times a week, beginning at the age of 7 months.
“Now he sees his scar and understands,” said Yossi. “Sometimes I hear him talk to himself and say, ‘Yes, now I have a new kidney and my cousin gave it to me.’ He’s a very smart boy.”