(Courtesy of Ezer Mizion) IDF Company Sergeant Major Ofek Yishai was in the midst of drill exercises with his soldiers in the artillery corps when he got the phone call that would change his life—and the life of a complete stranger. The phone call was from Ezer Mizion’s Bone Marrow Registry, informing him that he was a match for a 62-year-old man suffering from leukemia. Ofek had been swabbed for the registry when he was drafted into the IDF, but he never dreamed that he would be called on to become a donor.
Ofek knew that if he left his soldiers at that moment, the drills would become totally chaotic, but he didn’t hesitate. Instead, he let his commanding officer know that he needed a leave of absence in order to bestow the gift of life on Harry Kavilio. The officer was totally supportive, and Ofek soon found himself in the hospital preparing for stem cell donation.
Harry had been incredibly healthy for the first 62 years of his life, so he was extremely shocked to find out that he had leukemia. Although friends had been telling him for a while that he looked pale, Harry didn’t take it seriously until a friend mentioned it when he returned from a trip abroad. “He wasn’t the first one who told me this, but he was the first one I listened to. I was tested at the hospital and discovered that my hemoglobin was half the normal rate, much lower than it should have been. More tests revealed that I had severe leukemia.”
When asked how he dealt with this difficult news, Harry said, “I am a rational person. I don’t ask questions like why did this happen to me and why now. It happened and it has to be dealt with.”
Harry was treated at Rambam Hospital in Haifa. The first round of chemo killed 70% of the cancerous cells, and by the end of round three there were only 3% left. At this point, Harry was told that the next step was a bone marrow transplant. The staff at Rambam looked for a donor with Harry’s blood type and 10 other matching criteria.
The doctor’s found a match from Ezer Mizion’s Bone Marrow Registry, the largest Jewish bone marrow registry in the world. Sergeant Major Ofek Yishai was found to be a perfect match and thankfully agreed without hesitation to donate his stem cells to Harry.
For two months before the transplant, Harry underwent multiple rounds of chemo and took heavy medication. Having been blessed with a sunny disposition, he dealt with these challenges by staying cheerful and taking the attitude that “whatever will be will be.” Harry’s wife, Janet, continuously believed that he would be OK. In conversations with other patients at the hospital, the couple understood how lucky they were to have found a donor so quickly.
According to Harry, “The bone marrow donation process is pretty simple, like receiving a blood donation, but there are a lot of side effects. The immune system is new, and there is always the fear of rejection. A few months after the donation, my skin became infected, and I was hospitalized and treated with steroids.”
Harry returned to work, at first part time and eventually full time, but his immune system was still pretty weak. When he got the flu, he wasn’t able to eat, lost 11 pounds in one week and had trouble breathing. He had to be hospitalized and treated at Rambam.
Ofek and Harry recently got together for an emotional meeting. Harry is healthy and still as cheerful as ever. Ofek has completed his army service and is planning a trip abroad. He was overwhelmed by the profusion of thanks he received from Harry and his family, especially since the donation was a relatively simple procedure. He said, “I was very happy to hear that the donation succeeded in saving Harry and call on everyone who can to join the Ezer Mizion Bone Marrow Registry.”
Harry has made it one of his life’s missions to encourage bone marrow donation. He reminds people that “it’s not like donating a kidney or another organ; it’s a much simpler process.”
Ezer Mizion is the world’s largest Jewish bone marrow registry. In partnership with the IDF, it registers soldiers when they draft into the army. Sixty percent of the over 965,000 samples currently in the registry come from IDF soldiers. Ofek’s sample was part of a donor pool donated by David Farajun, an Israeli living in Canada. David is one of many donors who have funded their own donor pool by sponsoring a minimum of 600 samples taken from soldiers. Each sample costs $50 to process, and each sample has the potential to save a life. David recently came to Israel to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of his donation. At the airport, he told Ezer Mizion, “I have been privileged to save 114 people with this donor pool. 114! Everyone who suffers from this disease has a long road ahead of them, and with a small amount of effort we are able to save a life. That’s really something!”
Dr. Bracha Zisser, director of Ezer Mizion’s cancer support services, said, “Ninety-four percent of people who are found to be matches actually donate bone marrow. The fact that someone interrupts his or her life to save the life of a total stranger is not to be taken for granted. I am inspired every time! When I heard about Ofek Yishai leaving his soldiers in the field to save Harry, I was amazed at the level of caring which is unparalleled anywhere else in the world. It is a privilege to be a part of this life-saving organization and to bring smiles back to the faces of the chronically ill.”
Harry can now go on to enjoy many years of life with his wife, his children and his grandchildren. Ofek will take the traditional post-army trip and build a life for himself, secure in the knowledge that he saved a life!
Join Ezer Mizion on March 29-30 in Englewood, New Jersey, for Shabbat of Heroes where we will welcome former Israeli Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau and world-renowned chazzan Yitzchak Meir Helfgot. On Saturday night they will host a special musical havdalah with Simcha Leiner and cheese and halva direct from Shuk Machane Yehuda in Jerusalem as well as a selection of Israeli wines. More information may be found at www.ShabbatOfHeroes.com.
