An Update on Chassia

Last year, I blogged about Chassia, a woman in Israel suffering from breast cancer and poverty -- hardly able to care for her young son. Thanks to everyone, her life has changed drastically. Here is an update from Andrea Siman Tov, via Naomi Ragen.

Dear Friends:

Shana Tovah U'Mtukah!

Just a short note to tell you that Chassia is doing well. As you may well remember, she underwent a radical mastectomy last spring, the situation complicated by her terrible poverty and dwindling ability to care for her young son.

The donations received made the entire difference in her life. After completing the debilitating course of chemotherapy, with the help of friends she was able to purchase a nearby apartment in much better condition than the hovel she had previously rented. Her hair is slowly growing back, she takes daily walks and has begun to work a bit. Her son, Nachum, is adjusting well after a choppy year of being moved from house-to-house during the time Chassia couldn't care for him. He has his own bedroom; he has friends; he is taking singing lessons!

Chassia called me the night before Rosh Hashanah, struggling for the words to say thank you. NOT to me but, rather, to all of you who made the entire difference in her life. She still isn't aware of how far-reaching the campaign was and we, her friends, feel that this is the way it should be. She continues to have check-ups and is cautious about her future.

Although contributions came from many sources, it would be a grave oversight not to mention Naomi Ragen and her amazing List-of-Friends. Without Naomi's personal interest, the numbers would have fallen far short of what we, ultimately, received.

May God grant each and every one of us a year filled with His blessing: peace, sustenance, health and nachat and the continued ability to look beyond ourselves into the heart of our brother/sister.

With love and gratitude,
Andrea Simantov
Jerusalem

PS: Depending on her physical strength, Chassia has informed me that she hopes to take a modern-jazz dance class one night a week!