Three-year-old Adir, who undergoes multiple dialysis treatments every week, recently celebrated his third birthday with a traditional haircutting ceremony, in the company of his family and the staff from Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Nephrology Institute at Rambam Health Care Campus.
The Elmakias family and the staff of Rambam’s Pediatric Nephrology Institute celebrating Adir's birthday and “Halka”. Photography: Rambam HCC
Adir Elmakias is the son of Liat and Meir from Beit She'an. He is the youngest of three brothers, and at three years old, has been through a lot in his short life. At the age of one month, he was rushed to Rambam from a different hospital with multiple system failure. Adir initially spent nearly two weeks in the Wagner-Green Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and was then hospitalized for an additional eight-and-a-half months for a series of treatments. As a result, he was found to be suffering from kidney failure. He is now receiving dialysis treatments in Rambam’s Pediatric Nephrology Institute six days a week and has to deal with a number of disabilities.
Dr. Shirley Pollak, a senior physician in the Pediatric Nephrology Institute notes, “During these three years, the parents, Liat and Meir, have faced a challenging daily struggle to keep their son alive with many supportive treatments."
Liat, who chose to look for the positive aspects, decided to celebrate Adir’s third birthday with a traditional "Halka" party (a ceremony during which a haircut symbolizes an exit from toddlerhood). She invited Adir’s medical team from the institute, the immediate family, and Rabbi Shmuel Turkov, a Rabbi from the Chabad House, who conducted the ceremony.
“There was great happiness here when Adir turned three. Medically, his condition is very complex and we chose to celebrate him,” Liat shared excitedly. “As his parents, we don’t take it for granted that Adir has reached three years of age. We are so grateful to the medical staff, which takes care not only of Adir, but of us as well, and the opportunity to celebrate Adir is also my opportunity to say thank you to the team.”
