By now, the vulnerable letter written by Esti Shlezinger, a young frum girl in her twenties with a very moving story has gone almost viral. In heart-wrenching words, Esti describes the challenges that she’s had to face over the years:
“I have three little siblings that are triplets. The day they were born was one of the happiest, and saddest, I ever was. The babies were in the NICU and our mother was in the late stages of cancer.”
Yocheved Shlezinger a’’h had been battling liver cancer for several years at that point. But just one month after giving birth to the triplets prematurely, she tragically passed away at the age of 29, leaving behind nine motherless children. Esti’s father had to quit his job to look after the three little newborns all on his own. Of course, the older kids did what they could to help. But things were very hard at times, according to Esti.
“Abba quit his job to take care of the three little babies who had never been held by their mom. And we siblings did what we could to help. That’s why we grew up with very little money, and to this day our situation is not good…He carries a huge burden on his shoulders and being a single father has taken a heavy toll on him.”
Esti, now 21 years old, shares how she feels about her mother’s absence in her life:
“In my heart there is now a void that no one can fill. Boruch Hashem, I’m engaged to a good bochur with yiras shamayim. But I do not know how to approach the wedding: I can’t ask Abba for anything…Right now, I have nothing.”
Esti is still in school. She has no money to offer, and after everything he’s gone through as a single father, her father simply does not have the financial means that he wishes he had to help his daughter celebrate what should be the happiest day of her life.
“I beg you to help,” says Esti. “Help me to get married like everyone else, and the Father Of All Yesomim will keep His promise: אם אתה משמח את שלי אני משמח את שלך”
Click here to help Esti celebrate her simcha with dignity.