by Cindy Mindell, Jewish Ledger (CT)
For 15 weeks now, the members of Jewish Women Connected (JWC) at Chabad of Stamford have been packing housewares and comfortable clothing, water-bottles, and always a little bag containing a silver charm.
Each week, they place the carefully selected items into boxes decorated by the children of Gan Yeladim, the Chabad preschool, and ship them to a young woman in North Carolina awaiting a lung transplant.
Then the women pray together, reciting from Psalms and inserting the name of the recipient, Rivkah Bat Shifra Aviva.
Rivkah, or Rivky Deren, as she is known to the women, is the 24-year-old daughter of Rabbi Yisroel and Vivi Deren, directors of Chabad of Stamford. Since May, she and her mother have been living near Duke University Hospital in Durham, on the transplant list to receive two healthy lungs. The two women have been supported from afar by the JWC’s Connecting Stamford with Duke project.
Rivky suffers from the rare lung disease, bronchiectasis. When her case was deemed too challenging by transplant centers in New York, the family approached Duke.
“We were afraid to even realistically hope for a positive response,” Rabbi Deren says. “At Duke, they said, ‘We’ll do it and we’ll do it right.’ The fact that this surgery has happened is more than we could have ever hoped for. We are so grateful to HaShem.”
As a child, Rivky spent a lot of time in the hospital, and has since worked to help others with serious health conditions. In 2007 and 2008, she was pushed in a wheelchair in the Chai Lifeline marathon, raising more than $10,000 to help the non-profit provide activities and services to sick children and their families throughout the country. She is also involved in Kids of Courage, a similar organization.
During Rivky’s 12-hour surgery, the Derens waited outside the operating room with another family who had received a liver from the same donor.
“We talked about how, while we were all so happy and grateful to have the chance for a cure, there was another family grieving over their loss,” says Rabbi Deren.
“A single donor can save five lives with vital organs and help up to 50 with skin and eyes and tissue and bone. This is such a real way to have an impact, by giving life to another.
While Judaism sees the sacredness of the body as paramount, organ-donation is permitted to save another’s life, Deren says. “It is an incredible mitzvah,” he says. “I would encourage people to become donors.”
Rabbi Deren says that he has received hundreds of wishes from all corners of the globe. His son, Rabbi Asher Deren, who directs Chabad of the West Coast located in South Africa, reported more than 100 attendees at a men’s prayer gathering on Sunday after Rivky’s surgery, many of whom hadn’t laid tefillin since becoming bnei-mitzvah.
“I encourage more prayer and mitzvot on Rivky’s behalf and for all those who are suffering,” says Rabbi Deren. “Everyone can do just one more mitzvah,” he says. “There’s so much hurt in the world, and we look forward to seeing the opposite side of that coin.”
I know this article is from last year, only just reading it now, Refuah Shelaima and may you have a wedding day that you have always dreamed of, as we all know you will be there.
she is 24 so her kapital is “chof-hei” (25)
whats her name for tehillim?
Rivkah B_S Shifra Avivah
We are totally inspired by your courage as a family .
Your strength, support and dedication to each other is a lesson to be learnt by so many of us.
Blessing to you all, to see you soon in Cape Town
West coast. H & V
I sat down with My kids & said Tehillim during the surgery.
Moshiach Now!
i am totally inspired by the warmth and love emanating frrrom father to child and vice versa. hashem show us your warmth and chesed as we approach rosh hashana and bring moshiach now,
Rivkah Bat Shifra Aviva.
may she have a Refuah shelaimoh with a long and healthy Life
As a person waiting for an orgn transplant myself. Firstly i totally sypathize with the family and Rivky. While II totally agree with Rabbi Deren that organ donation is a very big mitzvah, the harvest of the organ has to be done in a manner parallel to Halacha.
I don’t want to go into all the details, however a rabbi competent in such a Halacha must be consulted.
May Rivky and her wonderful family only know simchas!
Somehow I just can’t find her complete Hebrew name on this post. Can someone post it again even if it is somewhere above please?
http://chabadgreenwich.org/1610544/
Refuah Shleima and only simchos for Rivky, her family, her donor and all of Klal Yisroel! Moshiach Now!
Best wishes for a refua shlama. How is she recuperating now? It must have cost a fortune where can we donate?
Amazing!! Baruch Hashem! Refuah Sheleimah and very true #8! Best way is to do a Mitzvah in her honor, also great way to bring Moshiach NOW!
best way to say refuoh shleima is to do a mitzva in her honor.
https://chabadgreenwich.org/1610544/
Bh
may you be blessed with a many long and wonderful years, filled with joy and happiness!
Refua Shaleima
Does anyone know if the Rebbe ever talked about this subject? You can sign up with HODS (Halachic Organ Donors Society) to become a donor.
wow amazing! keep strong Rivky-YOU ARE AMAZING
thank G-d for miracles,and this is such a special one.
you are creating miracles every day, and inspring so many people of all ages, and in this merit of the entire family uplifting and dedicating themselves selflessly to many communities, may Hashem bring total refua,and Moshiach now!