Barrie Goldsmith Thanks His Angel
Dear Friends of Laniado
As a patient of Laniado, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for the wonderful support and generosity that you give to this special hospital. You really help to save lives, mine being one of them.
In December 2006, I returned to Israel from a visit to England, where I developed a cold which I could not get rid of. The glands on my neck were enlarged and although not painful I was told to see a Haematologist and that is when I met Dr Bulvik for the first time. I soon learned that he was the top Haematologist at Laniado Hospital and highly respected by his colleagues and patients.
After a thorough examination he said that I had suspected Lymphoma, and the tests confirmed that that I was already at an advanced stage of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Dr Bulvik then suggested that I undergo a bone marrow biopsy.
I had read up on this procedure and was very afraid of the pain, although, Ida, his Head Nurse, assured me that it would not be painful. The test results came back all clear – the Lymphoma had not spread to my bone marrow.
Nurse Ida, who I adored and trusted, was a real Matron in every sense of the word. The first thing she said to me was, “a lot of people don’t like me but we are going to be friends”. Who was I to argue at a time like that?
I was then sent to a hospital in Tel Aviv for another test which showed that the cancer had spread all over my body. Dr Bulvik told me, in no uncertain terms, that unless we start Chemotherapy immediately, I would die.
As you can imagine, this was a shock not just for me, but for my wife and our young son, who was five. Their constant love and support helped me get through the treatment and my recovery period and they continue to be a source of strength to me. My son is also a “Friend of Laniado” as he made friends with all the staff there and drew pictures to cheer up the patients in the ward.
The following day I returned to the hospital for my Chemotherapy. I started losing my hair after my second treatment and also lost weight but I was progressing well. After four treatments I went for another scan to evaluate how thing were going.
The results showed a fifty per-cent reduction in the cancer, Dr Bulvik suggested that I have a Colonoscopy. A biopsy was taken and I was shocked when
the results showed up a second type of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, known as Mantle Cell Lymphoma, which is more difficult to treat and incurable.
I was devastated because I knew that the Large B Cell Lymphoma was curable in 80% of patients, whereas the Mantle Cell Lymphoma kills most people after three years – some people might make it to five. I felt like I had been given a death sentence!
Dr Bulvik and his wonderful team of Doctors and nurses discussed and even argued amongst themselves in my presence about the best form of treatment to give me. They conclusions meant that I would have to be hospitalised for one
week every month. After my first treatment I felt so ill that in the middle of the night I told the Nurse that I wanted to discontinue treatment.
To my surprise, at 11pm Dr Bulvik arrived at my bedside. He had left a private function that he was attending to come and see me. Were it not for the tender and caring nature of Dr Bulvik and his wonderful team of nurses, I would not have been able to tolerate that particular treatment.
I used to have spiritual chats with a nurse named Lena, when she had a moment to herself. There was a time when I was unable to collect my prescription from the pharmacy and on her day off, Lena queued at the pharmacy for over an hour to
get my medicine. She made me smile even during my worst moments.The Hospital also assigns a Social Worker to each patient, who support and
help the whole family get through this difficult journey. One day, I woke up to find clowns in my room. I thought I was hallucinating but they turned out to be real and came every day to cheer us up after they had been to the Children’s Ward,
which was next door.
I can never thank Dr Bulvik (who I call the Ba’al Shem Tov) and his wonderful team of nurses enough. A lot of people at the hospital have become my friends, I feel that they were specially selected by G-d to carry out this very difficult and demanding work.
This story is a brief account of my experiences at Laniado Hospital – I could write a book about them. Despite their best efforts, Laniado is a charity based Hospital and will always depend upon the generosity of people like yourselves and others.
May all of you who have the ability to support this very special hospital please continue to, as your help, makes such a difference to so many people....
Someone once said “We make a living by what we receive; we make a life by what we can give”.
