Dear Friend,
There is no denying that this year has been a challenge for all of us. As an Israeli humanitarian aid organization, we have been put in an impossible position during this ongoing war. After October 7th we had to pause our normal operations and take action to support the emergency medical needs of Israel. Our hospital, trauma center, medical team and volunteers all rallied together to treat over four hundred casualties, and our facilities were used to support and treat some of the early female hostages that were released. We continue to be vigilant and prepared to meet any and all wartime needs.
Yet this was all a part of our work as medical professionals: treating people and saving lives. Even during these unprecedented times, as we near our 30th year of saving the lives of children around the world regardless of their nationality, religion, or ethnicity, we must continue our work of saving the world's little hearts in need--even while our hearts are broken.
This meant that when we could start bringing in desperately ill children from Africa again, we did, and have been doing so in full force since last November. We have kept our word to these families and children who have nowhere else to turn, treating over 200 children since October 7th.
Being a part of this work helps heal our broken hearts as well. To see a young child who comes to Israel unable to play or go to school or is failing to thrive, receive a life-saving heart treatment from us and weeks later be running around our Children’s Home is indescribably powerful.
Teaming up with doctors from all over the world who have continued their training with us and stayed with us during this war, treating children from here and treating children from around the globe, also helps heal our broken hearts.
Seeing the unwavering support we are receiving from our primary funder, SACH US, which enabled us to relocate our NICU to the basement, providing a sanctuary for families that had children born during the ongoing rocket fire helped heal our hearts.
Being able to run medical missions to Rwanda (our first), Tanzania, and Zanzibar and see children reunite with their families healthy and happy helped heal our hearts.
There is much more healing work to do, and a lot more trauma work to be done, but we are grateful to be able to actualize our values of saving lives and supporting Israel’s needs during this incredibly challenging time.
We cannot continue this work without your support. The needs of our children’s hospital are continually growing, as we build a new children’s emergency room.
As a SACH doctor for 25 years, it is my job to save lives, and I and my colleagues are humbled to be able to do it, but we cannot do it alone. Help support our work and help repair the spirits and bodies of those families in Israel battered by the horrors of this war and the hearts of our children and children around the world. Please know that you have our heartfelt gratitude for your invaluable generosity in the past and during these grim times for Israel and the Jewish People.
Sincerely,
Dr. Lior Sasson
Director of Cardiac Surgery
Lead Doctor at Save a Child’s Heart