New York

Just back from New York, still jet lagged and emotionally drained from the trip, having spent 4 days with my nephew Max who was recovering from his second course of chemotherapy.

After a 12 hour flight, I arrived at Sloan Kettering the famous cancer hospital. One of the toughest experiences of this trip was the pediatric department, where Max is having his treatment. Children, babies and teenagers, bald and with a lifeless grayish complexion, some gaunt others bloated by the drug treatment, all sharing their suffering and hope. But it's the hope that's keeping these brave children and their families going. And it's hope that's keeping my sister Riva and Ed, Max's parents from falling apart.

Max had a couple of bad days and one good day during my visit. He is receiving the strongest and most toxic form of chemotherapy and while he knows its aim is to destroy the tumor, he feels it's also destroying his healthy body.

I went to New York armed with hundreds of acupuncture needles, herbal remedies and other paraphernalia, hoping to be able to help ease some of Max's suffering, but he just wanted Shai his uncle, not the practitioner. We had some magical moments together, a few tears and many laughs, some chats and just hanging out.