Why we opened this campaign
This is Lina. She is 5 years old.
She was born in Netanya with a congenital heart defect.
When she was only 4 months old, something went wrong during surgery, and Lina had to be connected to a ventilator.
As a result, the nerves responsible for breathing were damaged, and now Lina breathes through a tracheostomy — a small tube in her throat.
Without it, she cannot live.
Unfortunately, in Israel there is no way to restore these nerves, so in August the Maccabi Health Fund sent Lina and her parents to Stanford Hospital in the USA, where such surgeries are possible.
The operation is very complex — for about 12 hours, a team of specialists will work to repair and replace the damaged nerves.
Only a few patients in the world have ever had this kind of surgery, but doctors are optimistic.
According to Maccabi rules, when a patient is sent abroad for treatment, the health fund pays for the treatment and flights, but living and food expenses must be paid by the family.
After arriving in the USA, doctors decided to postpone the surgery — Lina’s heart was not ready for anesthesia and needs preparation.
The insurance still covers the medical costs, but the family must stay longer in America than planned.
Lina’s parents work remotely part-time, but their income barely covers basic expenses in Israel — rent, National Insurance, and a loan they took before the trip.
After a month and a half, the hospital helped them move from a rented apartment to a special hotel for patients, which saved some money.
However, new costs appeared — medical insurance extensions for the parents, food, and basic living expenses.
Life in the USA is expensive, and the family cannot manage alone anymore.
To help Lina’s family stay until the surgery, go through rehabilitation, and return home safely, the following amount is needed:
- Medical insurance for the parents (3 months) — $7,551
- Food and household expenses (3 months, $400 per week) — $4,800
- Extra medical procedures for Lina (not covered by Maccabi) — $2,100
These are not huge amounts, but for the family they are impossible to handle.
Any help will be truly priceless.
Together we can bring closer the day when little Lina will be able to breathe, speak, swim in the sea, and live a happy, normal childhood.
.png)
