B”H
Anat (Nati) Cohen is currently engaged in the most fundamental struggle of all: the fight for the simple right to breathe.
For decades, Nati was the one standing at the forefront of kindness. She dedicated her life to boundless altruism, serving as a pillar of support for children battling illness and a source of strength for families in their darkest hours. Whenever a hand was needed, Nati’s was the first to be extended, offered with an open heart and unwavering compassion.
Today, the wheels of fate have turned. Nati now requires an urgent, life-saving lung transplant, and time is of the essence.
Her only hope for survival lies across the ocean. She faces a grueling and complex medical odyssey in the United States—a journey involving the search for a compatible donor, high-stakes surgery, and many months of arduous rehabilitation far from the comforts of home and family.
While the Health Fund and Ministry of Health have committed to covering the direct costs of the surgery and clinical care, Nati and her family are left facing a daunting financial chasm. They are responsible for the staggering peripheral costs essential to the procedure’s success, including specialized medical transport, an accompanying medical team, long-term international lodging, and the high cost of living abroad.
This is not merely a medical crisis; it is a battle for the sanctity of family. In a moving personal note, Nati describes her “relentless effort to remain alive for the sake of my children.” She longs only to continue being a mother, to be the grandmother who offers a warm embrace, and to remain by the side of her husband, Benny, who cannot contemplate a future without her.
Nati is fighting for every breath, and we cannot let her face this struggle alone.
Driven by this urgent need, Benny turned to us to help secure the funds necessary to save her life. In partnership with Charidy, we launched a dedicated crowdfunding initiative. Through an extraordinary outpouring of communal support, we have successfully raised approximately 190,000 NIS.
Recognizing the critical urgency of her situation—and since credit processing timelines can be slow—our organization decided to bridge the temporary gap immediately. We have granted Nati the full amount raised to date as an initial installment to ensure her journey can begin without delay. Remaining funds will be transferred as the campaign reaches its conclusion.
In a poignant meeting to present these funds, Benny shared the reality of Nati’s daily life—her constant tether to an oxygen machine and the myriad of obstacles they face. Yet, amidst the hardship, they shared a glimmer of light: the joy of their daughter’s upcoming wedding.
We extend our profound gratitude to every donor who has answered this call. We pray that Nati and her family navigate this transplant with success and speed, and that she may merit a long, healthy life in the warm embrace of her beloved family.
Attached are photographs from our meeting.
