Hollywood, FL – Orthodox Jewish Parents Fight To Keep Their Teenage Daughter On Life Support

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    18 year old, Danielle Chaya Bat Aviva has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumorHollywood, FL – Fifteen months ago, Danielle Zfat, 19, (Danielle Chaya Bat Aviva) of Hollywood, Florida was a healthy college-bound teenager. Today, she is on life support, fighting to stay alive, while her parents fend off efforts by the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to pull Danielle off of her life-sustaining devices.

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    “Our way is to believe as a Jew,” Aviva Zfat, Danielle’s mother, told WSVN-TV/Channel 7 News (http://bit.ly/WPZyjf) as she hugged her husband, Reuven. “Is that everything goes through the heart. As long as the heart beats, the soul is in the heart, and therefore, she is alive.”

    Danielle was diagnosed with a brain tumor 14 months ago after waking up with numbness on the right side of her body. She was admitted to the hospital on November 25th, but her condition worsened on January 1st and she was put on life-support. “We just want her to live,” Danielle’s mother said, crying. “When God decides to take her, then He will take her. She’s breathing. She’s alive. She’s up there alive, breathing. Take care of my daughter, please. Give her life. Don’t cut her off.”

    As Orthodox Jews, the Zfats are forbidden from removing Danielle from life support. The Zfats’ attorneys filed an emergency motion to prevent the hospital from pulling the plug on Danielle after hospital physicians said they were planning to remove Danielle from her life-saving systems as of January 3rd.

    “There’s no analogy on life that’s safe when you’re talking about life,” family attorney Moshe Rubenstein said. “Life is the highest and it’s our duty to move mountains – in fact, to give our own life to save a life.” Menachem Mayberg, the other family attorney, said, “The doctors of the hospital specifically asked her whether or she wanted to fight and continue her life to live. She blinked once for yes.”

    For its part, the hospital has denied any attempts to remove Danielle from life support. In a statement, the hospital said patient confidentiality prevented them from discussing the case, but did say, “As an institution that values deeper caring, we do our utmost to respect religious and cultural beliefs.”

    In the meantime, Aviva Zfat is bargaining with God to save her daughter’s life. “If I can take her place, I’ll do it,” she said. “I’ll switch places. I’m older. I’ve done enough for me. She can have my time.”


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    67 Comments
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    11 years ago

    Please say Tehillim for Danielle Chaya bas Aviva.

    11 years ago

    Rebono Shel oilum. Help this Jewish girl.
    Shelach Refuah Shelaimo.

    Supermom
    Supermom
    11 years ago

    Heartbreaking! May Hashem send Danielle a Refuah shelama!

    I_Am_Me
    I_Am_Me
    11 years ago

    I remember making the same pact for the person I loved who had and died of his battle with cancer. It’s not a pact done lightly & obviously for me it didn’t work. My heart desperately goes out to her and while I hope the mothers pact doesnt come to fruition, I do hope our prayers for her work and she makes a full recovery. First of all, the article never said she was brain dead, just the opposite it says she was able to understand a question being asked of her and then was able to blink. Second, miracles do occur and I seem to remember something about such a miracle, since I’m unsure what it is I won’t state it though. However, I am praying for her

    11 years ago

    Dear Father Master of the Universe.
    Please give this girl a refuah shelemah.

    11 years ago

    nebach. She should have a refua shleima.

    11 years ago

    i hope she has a full and fast recovery! but i really believe if the mother takes on her self to cover her hair and dress modestly it will definitely help, we here so many story’s about taking upon urself something in that aspect! Refuah Shelama!

    stamm
    stamm
    11 years ago

    a genuine yiddishe mammeh!! may she have a nes speedily, refua shleima

    11 years ago

    Without commenting directly on the tragedy confronting this family, the article raises the large issue of what is society’s obligation to fund end-of-life care once a medical decision has been made that there is no hope of recovery. If the parents of a child are willing to pay whatever the costs incurred of keeping someone on life-support indefinitely, clearly that is their right. However, if because of their religious beliefs the parents are expecting insurance companies or public subsidies (where there is no insurance) to keep righting checks to the hospital while insurance rates are skyrocketing, they may have a rude surprise. Society cannot and should not subsidize their religous preferences when we are cutting back so many other critical social services.

    Dr_P_S_Ledereich
    Dr_P_S_Ledereich
    11 years ago

    http://www.chayimaruchim.com/ is national Agudath Israel of Americas culturally sensitive “‘end of life” advocacy and counseling, which is a team of Rabbis doctors and lawyers who advise and help out in situations like this.

    from their website:
    http://www.chayimaruchim.com/Learn/c-1-122/

    Do call Chayim Aruchim.
    For appropriate counseling and advice that is based on Halacha, or for a free copy of the Agudath Israel Halachic Medical Directive, please contact the Chayim Aruchim Center for Culturally Sensitive End of Life Advocacy and Counseling. The program coordinator, Rabbi Aron Wajsfeld, can be reached directly at 718-535-9061 or by e-mail [email protected].

    Hashem should send Danielle Chaya bas Aviva a refua sheleima bisoch shaar cholei yisroel

    11 years ago

     yitzchokm At a time not so long ago, life was not only a religious preference as you so crudely call it.  uptime22 this family is more beloved by Hashem thyan you will ever be with your phoney yiddishkeit . Such a sad story my heart and prayers go out to the girl and her family.

    stamm
    stamm
    11 years ago

    seems like the hospital is following orders from who? the article and video show that the hospital would grant the parents wishes but… but what? anyone have a clue what is really going on?

    Somebody
    Somebody
    11 years ago

    I think she should change her name since Daniela has din in it sometimes under circumstances like this it should be look in too they should send someone to Reb Chaim kanefsky

    11 years ago

    To numbers 7 & 9 may Hashem grant both of you a refuah hanefesh because you 2 definitely need it. May Hashem grant this lovely young yiddeshe girl a refuah Haguf immediately!

    Truth
    Truth
    11 years ago

    This is just the beginning of Obamacare. We learnt in school that’s what liberal beliefs are. They do this in Europe -they do Not believe in prolonging terminal pts. lives!
    How anybody can vote Lib and call themselves Frum Jews is beyond me. Oh and the money they save they take to pay for abortions and birth control.

    Truth
    Truth
    11 years ago

    As a Med Prof. I leave these decisions up to the Rabbis.
    But if they say here to try to keep this pt. alive, perhaps try to transfer her out to a good hospital that will try to help her. Johns Hopkins (Balto., Md.) is the best hospital in the world and they have top Neurosurgeons.

    mugsisme
    mugsisme
    11 years ago

    Oiy nebach! Davening for a miracle.

    We had that happen here. A man was declared brain dead and the hospital wanted to pull the plug. Our LOR worked so hard with the family and a lawyer. In the end the hospital won and the plug was pulled. He died shortly there after.

    It is just plain wrong! The family should decide without doctors or hospitals or insurance companies. When my son was dying they asked us do many times to sign a DNR. They badgered us over and over to stop the medication that was keeping him alive. I don’t understand what their hurry is. They rushed another family on our floor. We had three children die that week.

    And them people wonder why they get so burned out.

    I pray with all my heart that this mother has a wonderful ending and this cam set the example of why we don’t pull the plug.

    LiberalismIsADisease
    LiberalismIsADisease
    11 years ago

    There is a reason why the Democrat Party is the Party of Death. The libs have no value to life and are pushing the family to pull the plug. Some kids got shot and all of a sudden they want to ban guns and save lives. THEY ARE SO FULL OF THEMSELVES!

    lakewooder
    lakewooder
    11 years ago

     yitzchokm. Torah is not a preference or a feeling. It is what G-d told His people. It is right that this person should stay alive and be helped to do so,because that is what it says in the Torah, and murder is wrong, because that is what it says in the Torah.

    Miriam377
    Miriam377
    11 years ago

    Refuah Sheleima Have a speedy recovery

    11 years ago

    Just so you know, Maimonides Hospital’s rabbi has just such a job. He goes to patient’s family and tells them that their family member is brain dead and keeping them alive does them no good. He offers advice to let them die, meaning stop all meds and food. After he tells them these things, he says, ” But you should ask your rabbi about this.:” I saw this when I was with a family member in the hospital. I was shocked.. The family was Russian. They agreed to let their patient die. Next day she died.

    sissel613
    sissel613
    11 years ago

    I don’t understand those who are commenting on the mode of dress–are you G~d that you know why this family is being punished this way? How dare all of you. The emunah that this family has is astounding. With all my heart I wish a Refua Sheleima to Danielle Chaya bas Aviva bsoch cholei yisroel. Remember, that Hashem is the ultimate doctor!

    greg8103
    greg8103
    11 years ago

    very sad, we should all daven for her, so Hashem perform a miracle & the girl fully recovers.

    ASimpleJew
    ASimpleJew
    11 years ago

    I don’t believe the issue is here is whether they should pull the plug or not. The issue here is whether she should remain in a hospital setting. There is no further treatment being made available in this case. I believe the hospital is simply trying to get the family to move her into a more appropriate and cost effective setting such as a skilled nursing facility. A case like this costs a lot of money and ties up an ICU bed which may be needed for other patients with better prognosis. And before you comment about who lives and dies its not about that its about who is the most appropriate patient for that bed.

    To # 30 while I’m sure in the big picture the insurance company is probably not losing money, however on this case the both the insurance company and the hospital are and the hospitals pockets are definitely not as deep as the insurance companies.

    11 years ago

    To all those who say that the insurance companies should simply “pay” as long as the family doesn’t want to pull the plug after the patient no longer meets a previously defined and medically accepted definition of “end-of-life care”, than the family should simply agree to assume the costs from that point forward. No one should be forced to pull the plug but at the same time, an insurance policy is a commercial contract, not a form of tzadakah, and the insurance company cannot simply “waive” the terms of the contract at the expense of its shareholders and other policyholders. If someone wants “unlimited coverage” than there are probably special P&C companies that will underwrite such a policy with the appropriate premiums.

    11 years ago

    The insurance compensation issue is not about empathy, the power of emunah, the anecdotal stories about those who have been declared “medically dead” but then come back and make a miracle recovery etc. Its a much narrower issue of when a regulated insurance carrier can deviate from the terms of its tariff and coverage schedules and continue payments which are precluded under the terms of the specific policy in question. Families who don’t want to risk “involuntary” termination of end-of-life treatment based on halachic rather than “medical determinations are 100 percent entitled to seek a policy or umbrella coverage that will continue payments to the hospital under “any scenario”.

    11 years ago

    I’m sorry for the family and the girl. May she get better soon.
    Just to clarify some facts: The mother said that Jews believe “everything goes by the heart. As long as the heart is beating the soul is still there.” That is not the opinion of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and many other poskim that you can see here at http://www.hods.org. And here is a video of Rabbi Dovid Feinstein talking about his father’s position. http://hods.org/english/h-issues/YouTube_video pages/RabbiDovidFeinstein.asp
    Also, I’m not sure the TV channel and the Voiz keeps on repeating the term life support. The machine is called a ventilator. It vents air in and out of whatever you attach it to. If a football was attached to a ventilator venting air in and out, would the media report the ventilator was on life support?

    Buchwalter
    Buchwalter
    11 years ago

    Refuah sheleima may hashem yisborach send his sheliach for a recovery

    Truth
    Truth
    11 years ago

    Yes 29, that’s his job. Some Rabbonim know the Halachos of when you can pull the plug. It’s not the job of Med Prof., like me, to do anything but prolong lives. Some of us have become PC and are following the lead by our Liberal Gov. and their Liberal views.

    Buchwalter
    Buchwalter
    11 years ago

    To all those who posted the “rational health expenses conscious thoughts” my answer is a posuk which my father A’H learned with me and who was murdered in Lodz Ghetto. Al todin eyz chavero ad shtegia limkomo. It easy to be practical and “health cost sparing” when it is the other party . To me a survivor it is despicable attitude.

    11 years ago

    Rebono Shel oilum. Help this Jewish girl.
    Shelach Refuah Shelaimo.

    11 years ago

    I cannot believe the reaction to #7 …maybe she said it a bit bluntly…but all the negative comments that followed are appalling.
    The fact remains is that we are all sad for her situation and wish her the speediest recovery….and yes …miracles do happen. Doctors are not G…d..However..and these are the facts…When you want something from G…d in a time of need, maybe we need to give something for that “extra” miracle. Something that might not be so easy and may be a sacrifice. After all, you don’t want your child to be the sacrifice…so what are you willing to sacrifice for HIM? Nobody is saying that we know why the One ABove sends us certain things in life. She did not imply that…that was your own maybe….let’s call it guilt – that was at work here. If I would be a betting person, I would say that most of the comments were from “orthodox” people…who don’t dress so orthodox. You see, nobody is casting blame or anything, but why don’t you go and ask all those liberal jews, who when in need of “miracles”, took upon themselves to change certain things and………..guess what…MIRACLES HAPPENED. ASK REB AMNON YITZCHOK FOR PROOF…ASK MANY REBBE’S…BUT IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN IT…IT WON’T HELP YOU…BECAUSE YOU WON’T MAKE THE CHANGES…..
    TO GET………YOU HAVE TO GIVE…….AND THAT APPLIES…GETTING FORM THE ONE ABOVE TOO…ESPECIALLY TO HIM…
    SORRY…the comment was not meant to hurt..she was just simply reminding people of their “options”…after all….WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE?????

    basmelech
    basmelech
    11 years ago

    No one can calculate the value of human life. Every minute of life is precious. It is important as a tikun for the soul to live as long as one is able to and not hasten the time of death. May she merit a refuah shelaimo.

    11 years ago

    To all posters this is not the time to write all your opinions on this sad and unfortunate situation.
    Now is the time to only pray for this girl to have a refuah shelemah.

    PLEASE I ASK YOU ALL TO PRAY FOR HER.

    11 years ago

    #7 I know you meant well…however it is important to know how to organize your thoughts and convey the message properly. It would help, too, if you learned a bit of English, so you can spell properly. I mean that from my heart…not to discredit you. We live in a big country, and it’s important to know the language. It certainly helps in expressing our feelings and views.
    Thanks

    11 years ago

    #58 …people are just trying to help…we are all praying for a refuah …but it sometimes helps to be mekabel something in lieu of Hashems Rachmim…nothing wrong with bringing it to one’s attention…why do people get so sensitive when someone writes something because they are trying to help. It does not mean that they are not nice people…
    I fail to understand all the people who criticize someone trying to help…It wasn’t meant as a put down…just advice that you may call ‘”unsolicited”.

    Raphael_Kaufman
    Raphael_Kaufman
    11 years ago

    #7 . Your original comment was insensitive and inappropriate (I thought you were making a bad joke) but what’s worse is your apparent belief that Jews who don’t hold the exact same practices and attitudes that you do are, somehow, not really frum. How about that! Insensitive and arrogant too!
    Some points to ponder:
    1. There is no indication in the report that the mother does not cover her hair or dresses immodestly. Why did you assume that she does?
    2. Let’s say that the mother does accept additional chumras on herself. When her daughter passes on R’L, wouldn’t that cause her to loose faith?

    Chazal tell us that there are times when one should not give tochachah. This instance is one of the times they mention. Are you frummer than the Rabbonei haGemarah?

    takeittothem
    takeittothem
    11 years ago

    To #44 : nitpicking on a word, such as ‘ventilator’, when we are dealing with a situation of life or death, is the height of asininity.

    takeittothem
    takeittothem
    11 years ago

    Since this poor girl has a beating heart, and can blink, which means she has a functioning brain, how can anyone consider pulling the plug?
    She has a heart and a brain – keep her alive !