06/09/2017
To anyone out there. Our brother Alex Rayfiel was diagnosed with MS and needs help. For those of you who know him, you know how much this man cares about the people around him. Sharing this post is just one small way. Help me help Alex raise money so he can beat MS.
In Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a person's immune system attacks the fatty insulation layer surrounding their neurons in the brain and spinal cord. This makes it harder for nerve signals to get through, and eventually leads to inflammation that can damage the nerves permanently. There is a cure! A treatment called HSCT (hematopoietic stem cell transplant) is achieving success in stopping the disease. In HSCT, high-intensity chemotherapy is first used to kill the person's immune system. Then the person's own stem cells are collected from their blood and get re-injected to restart the immune system with a clean slate.
There is no treatment in the US, but Shaare Zedek hospital (just so happens to be a previous recipient of Alpha Epsilon Pi's philanthropic efforts) in Jerusalem has accepted Alex for this summer. The treatment costs $120,000 and will take approximately 2 months. Afterward, Alex will need 3-6 months to get past the toughest symptoms, and then 1-2 years for his immune system to recover completely.
Take a moment to look over the go fund me. In Hebrew, the related word chaya means "life or long life, and is derived from the Hebrew word chai (חי), meaning "life". Jews often give gifts and donations in multiples of 18, which is called "giving chai". $18 or $36 are great amounts to start with. If you can help me in any way, please take a moment to look at this page and find it in your heart to either A) share it or B) give a donation (whatever is in your heart to give).
Thank you to the 212 donations that have already come in for Alex and the almost 20k raised. Let's hit that 120k mark and help Alex beat MS!
Thank you.
Please help Alex get a life-saving stem cell transplant to stop his Multiple Sclerosis! We are planning to travel to Israel in August to receive this miracle treatment at Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem. We need your support to make it a reality! Alex's Story: It was a day like any other when...
