Family Fights to Keep Teen’s Life Support On
A teen’s health took a turn for the worse and has left her on life support. Now her relatives are trying to honor her wishes. “Our way to believe as a Jew,” said the victim’s mother, Aviva Zfat, “Is that everything goes through the heart. As long as the heart beats, the soul is in the heart, and therefore she is alive.”
Outside Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Aviva Zfat embraced her husband Ruben. Inside the hospital is there 19-year-old daughter, Danielle. 14 months ago, Danielle who grew up in Coral Springs, was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
On Nov. 25th she was admitted to the hospital. On Jan. 1st her condition worsened and she was placed on life support. “We just want her to live,” said Zfat in tears. “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. Anybody can share any support. Please.”
Danielle and her family are Orthodox Jews. Their belief prohibits pulling the plug once life sustaining devices are in place. The family’s attorney has filed an emergency motion in court. In that motion, in reads in part, “As of January 3, 2013, the physicians at the hospital have indicated that they will be removing all medical systems which support her life.”
“There’s no analogy on life that’s safe when you’re talking about life,” said family attorney, Moshe Rubenstein. “Life is the highest and it’s our duty to move mountains. In fact, to give our own life to save a life.” The other family attorney, Manachem Mayberg added, “The doctor’s of the hospital specifically asked her whether she wanted to fight and continue her life to live. She blinked once for yes.”
Late Wednesday, the hospital released a notice saying, “Our hearts and compassion are with the family at this difficult time. Due to patient confidentiality, we are unable to discuss the medical aspects of this case, except to say that it was not the hospital’s intention to remove life support. As an institution that values deeper caring, we do our utmost to respect religious and cultural beliefs.”
“If I can take her place,” said Zfat, “I’ll do it. I’ll switch places. I’m older. I’ve done enough for me. She can have my time.”
Just 15-months ago, Danielle was a healthy teenager on her way to college in New York. On a November morning she woke up with numbness on one side of her body and her life has been changed ever since.
The Zfat family is full of faith and believes there will be a resolution.
Readers are urged to say Tehillim for Daniella Chaya bas Avivah
DaasTorah
This article is missing a great deal of information. Why is the hospital wanting to remove the life support? What’s the Danielle’s current medical condition? More information is needed before anyone can form an opinion.
fdsa
teen’s
to #1
the details are irrelevant. torah forbids removing life support. period.
WHAT DETAILS
The important details we need to know is to say t’hillim for this girl and do whatever we can to help the family. The rest of the details is in Hashem’s hands. And our opinions are totally unimportant. WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS A C T I O N!!! Say T’hillim, give Tzedakah in her zchus, have her in mind at candlelighting. These details is what we need to know and more importantly to DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cnat seee...
not the first time the videos dont come up!!
serel chana maness
there is much help in lsrael with stem cells treatment,saw it in the hamodia paper,contant,frier in lsrael and the mother should take upon herself tzinus,with a sheital where the tumor was in danilla. we daven for a completer healing
Anonymous
To #6-not a very nice thing to say that the mother is not tznius enough.
correct name
danielle chaya bat aviva
danielle we love u and are davening for you constantly!
dovid
to #6 that not very nice of you to say something like that to a grieving mother. were is your sensativity were is your ahavas yisroel…something is wrong with you? looking at negativity….negavitiy may come your way…watch what you say.
to 3
you don’t know what you’re talking about. When personal medical ethics/shaalos come up, you call a rov who is expert in that field such as Rabbi Dovid Feinstein (or a lubavitcher rov who is TAKEH an expert in medical halacha), and follow his advice.
To #6
You’re so compassionate, and understanding.
to #6
my first thought was, what do I need to do to improve myself so Hashem would hear my prayers for her. Just saying we all have somethimg to work on.
WE NEED MOSHIACH NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Money Money Money
Obviously since there is no money to pay for her, the hospitals don’t want a drain on their resources and thus want to end her life so they can get a paying customer. Believe it or not this IS the way hospitals work.