Naama Fund of Neve Daniel recently celebrated her Bat Mitzvah, and chose to commemorate the occasion in a particularly meaningful way.

During the event, together with her friends and family, Naama created a work of art that will now be displayed at the entrance to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Just over 12 years ago, Naama was herself treated in the NICU after she was born at 35 weeks, and weighing just two kilograms, following an emergency Cesarean procedure.

Her father Yonatan recalls, “It was a very stressful experience and for the ten days around her birth we were very worried. The medical staff was incredible and kept us feeling encouraged with their love and made sure that we were able to get through that time as best as possible. That feeling is something that has always stayed with us and now that Naama is 12 we welcomed the chance to come back and express our gratitude.”

It turned out that Naama’s experience was a sort of “initiation” for the Fund family into the experience of extended stays in the NICU at Shaare Zedek. Her younger brother also said spent an extended stay in the NICU after his birth. “I remember the time my little brother spent in the hospital and saw the caring the staff of the NICU gave my family. It was a very tough time for us,” Naama said.

Their mother Miriam explained how the idea came about for the special art project. “We were looking for ideas for something we could do together with the other people at the Bat Mitzvah and the inspiration came from the Hanan Ben Ari song “Amen al Hayiladim”. This was the first time that I’ve been back to the NICU since my son was released eight and a half years ago. So it’s really a feeling of closure for us. We hope that this artwork will provide others with hope and particularly for the new parents who will enter the Unit.”