Yeshayahu may not look like it but he’s almost 15. He can’t go to school or spend time with friends- he’s too sick to do much. As he waits for a liver transplant, Yeshayahu’s home environment exposes him to germs that make him even sicker.

Yeshayahu Y. of Ofakim may not look like it but he is a teenager, almost 15 years old. Like other boys his age he should be in school, learning (which he loves to do) and spending time with his friends. Instead, he spends most of his days asleep in bed, too exhausted, weak and sick to do much else.

When Yeshayahu was 12 he began having terrible headaches and additional issues such as extreme fatigue and slowed growth that scared his parents and caused his doctor to run tests. Their fears were founded: Yeshayahu had Pancolitis (a life-long chronic condition) and other intestinal problems. Damage was caused to his liver. He has been under medical care ever since, and will need to undergo a liver transplant.

Last year Yeshayahu’s condition worsened, his body unresponsive to medications and other treatments. With each day that passes he continues to decline and his body is struggling to function while dealing with multiple medical challenges, until his transplant can take place. Currently he cannot eat and is fed through a feeding tube. Yeshayahu’s mother Yaffa describes the fear of seeing her son’s skin tone “now yellow as a lemon” and the swelling of his body.

Yeshayahu’s system is so vulnerable that any germ can make him even sicker. Living in a tiny apartment with two bedrooms for 9 siblings exposes him to an untold number of coughs, sneezes, colds and viruses that are dangerous for him. In his weakened state finding a quiet place to sleep is also a challenge.

 Yaffa and her husband Chaim Leib are doing everything they can to help their very sick son. They realized they must adapt their home in order to improve his conditions and keep him isolated, in an environment that is as germ free as possible. To that end they need to add on a small bedroom that will be completely private, enabling Yeshayahu to rest quietly and keep siblings and germs, out. After consulting with multiple sources to get the lowest possible price for this project, they will need $15,000 to adapt their home. Unfortunately, it is completely out of reach for Yaffa and Chaim Leib on their incomes as a kindergarten teacher and an avrech kollel.

 Yeshayahu ben Yaffa Shaindel’s health is already compromised. We need to do all we can, as quickly as possible, to prevent it from deteriorating even further, until he can get his transplant, and then for his health and safety during his recovery and time at home, afterwards. Will you please help us build the room he desperately needs?