There is not enough time or space to express even a little of our gratitude to a brave, rare woman, a manager, an educator, Doctor Shula Blank.
Within the reality of life and the limitations of educational institutions, my child had no chance.
Our Ohad (not his real name), a 15-year-old adolescent, was diagnosed with a range of difficulties.
All our family members went through hellish torture until we hit the jackpot and managed to have him go aboard the “Bnei Arazim rescue ship”.
It is difficult to describe rivers of suffering filled with threatening rocks.
The web of transformations that we went through in the search for a facility suitable for Ohad.
The open abyss beside the rushing waves…
The daily struggle to take care of the child’s well-being and his basic material and mental needs…
These almost destroyed the little hope still left (or not).
And even after a long 9-month hospitalization, which is –
270 days of physical and mental difficulty
270 days of heartache
270 days of suffering and despair
Days when we reached the height of desperation
Days when we dived into the abyss, shattered into pieces
Days when we fought against demons and fierce rages
Days of fighting to keep the sanity of the brothers/sisters at home
Days when we wanted to quit the battle for life…
Days when I (almost) gave up.
And out of the black, thick, and terrible darkness, out of a stifling sea of vortices, far out at sea, we discovered a large illuminated ship, with dozens of adolescent boys and girls on its deck, waving a flag of victory.
We looked up and asked to join [them] but then the wind blew and threatened to extinguish the tiny torch of light, and why [was it] small?
Because we heard again and again that there was no chance to join the rescue ship.
Bnei Arazim has a waiting list…
Bnei Arazim is very much in demand…
Bnei Arazim does not belong to your district…
Bnei Arazim is crowded, there’s no room…
Bnei Arazim… don’t waste your time… try somewhere else…
But that’s exactly it, there is nowhere else!!
All the ships are full and completely unsuited to our destination…
I understood that my Ohad must get to the right station,
must board the appropriate ship,
must obtain a rescue ticket.
And this he could achieve only at Bnei Arazim.
Since then – for months
The Welfare Department did not get any rest from me
The Education Department – the Eligibility and Assessment Committee
The Ministry of Health
The Public Inquiries Commission
The Disabilities Administration
I went up to the Office of the Minister of Welfare…
And yes, I also had to hire a lawyer.
Even after hundreds of “no tickets left” replies, I did not give up.
I knew that this was the last ship… And my Ohad had to embark on it.
Finally, “constant dropping wears away a stone”, and there was a vacancy on the rescue ship.
And my Ohad got to go aboard the ship and managed to embark toward the goal that suited him.
Indeed, Ohad is still at the beginning of the track, and the road is long and not easy…
There are grayish days and foggy hours, and past memories are overwhelming.
But when there is a professional, responsible, and dedicated captain like Doctor Blank and the Boarding School’s team of sailors (angels)… I am at ease…
Those hours when our Ohad comes home, and his sisters are glad to see him, are hours of family delight.
Hours of shared experiences filled with joy and roaring laughter.
Of watering again plants and colorful flowers.
Of rediscovering a shining sun and a blooming and glowing nature.
All these confirm the secret of the rescue (success) of the ship’s goal!
The moment I knew that we had embarked on the right ship
We shall reach our destination!!
Mother of Ohad (not his real name)
