
L-R: Rudolph Giuliani and Nava Barak
In Israel for only two days in October 2005, the former Mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, found time to visit Rabin Medical Center's Davidoff Center, the largest and most prestigious center for the treatment and research of cancer in the Middle East, and fulfilled the promise he made at the 2004 NY gala dinner to visit Israel. Giuliani, who successfully overcame prostate cancer, wanted to give hope and encouragement to patients in their continuous fight against this terrible disease. Speaking before the staff, Giuliani expressed how impressed he was, affirming that this center is one of the most exceptional, outstanding, treatment centers he has ever visited. During his visit, Giuliani also met with two young mothers, Mira Tako and Shiri Givoli, (each with small children) who are cancer patients benefiting from the services of the new Davidoff Center. Giuliani was quite emotional during this meeting and expressed his desire to visit again in the near future.
Prof Moshe Salai, head of Orthopedics at Rabin Medical Center, told us that 30 years ago when he was just beginning his career, he was shocked to be told that there was no point in treating people over eighty years old suffering from fractures in the femoral neck.
Seventy year-old Gershon Gefen was not thinking about a trans-Atlantic flight to the United States when in mid-2008, doctors in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department of Rabin Medical Center, transplanted Heart Mate II, a permanent left ventricle assist device.
Bilah Rochman was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia almost three years ago.