Two years ago, after many attempts to treat her condition, 10-year-old Agam Eini was brought to Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel, hoping for a solution that would allow her to walk again. Her delighted father shares Agam’s amazing recovery and is thankful to the healthcare professionals who made it possible.
Agam’s journey is not an easy one. Her story first appeared on Israel’s Kan 11 news station two years ago. She had been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder when she was five. Suffering from bone marrow failure, she could no longer walk. However bleak the situation seemed, Rambam physicians were optimistic. A bone marrow transplantation was performed at The Joan & Sanford Weil Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, located in the Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital at Rambam, but there were many complications, and further surgery and treatment was required. Treatment continued in the Pediatric Orthopedics Unit, directed by Professor Mark Eidelman, including a new surgical procedure and a novel drug therapy. Eidelman had one goal in mind – Agam must walk again.
Following six surgical procedures at Rambam, Agam is walking again; she can do squats and even ride a bike. Recently, Professor Eidelman received a touching greeting from Agam’s father and a video showing her marching confidently during a family outing.
In the video, Agam’s father says, “Every rehabilitation hospital we had approached, turned us away; they resignedly looked at us during every consultation; they tried to explain to us that Agam’s condition was irreversible, and treatment was a waste of time; we remembered the first time when we were in Professor Eidelman’s office at Rambam. He confidently declared that after what Agam had been through, he would do everything to change the situation. But at that time, surgery was not an option.
“Three years later, we contacted Eidelman again, reminding him of that meeting. From that moment, a new journey began. Despite his many complex cases at the time, Professor Eidelman made us feel like we were his only case. His professionalism and dedication are admirable.”
Agam’s delighted father, and with renewed hope for the future, concludes, “With the guidance of Professor Eidelman and his medical team, we have gone from feeling hopeless and on the sidelines to completing a 9-km marathon! Thanks to a proactive, supportive, and focused medical team who believe in a positive outcome, we do not doubt that Agam’s progress will continue.”
As for us at Rambam Health Care Campus, all we can say is this:
Dear Agam! You are living proof of the saying, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” We salute you and do not doubt you will achieve much more. Wishing you good health and happiness from the entire hospital staff.
The Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital provides advanced medical services and a comprehensive approach to treatment in every area of pediatric healthcare. Located on Rambam Health Care Campus, it is the only children’s hospital dedicated exclusively to pediatric medicine in Northern Israel.
Watch Agam Eini’s moving story on Facebook.
Although the original video about Agam is in Hebrew, check it out below. Pictures are worth a thousand words!