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Village Of Friends from page 18
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20
November 21 • 2013
JN
derivative of Norrie, which could
be passed down to future chil-
dren:' Brandvain said. Results of
additional genetic tests are not yet
back.
"The doctors in Israel told us
Yanay was getting worse and one
of them said we should go to
Michigan for surgery," Vered said.
"In one week, we had to get a visa
and passport for Yanay and con-
tact the doctor in Detroit to make
an appointment. That's when a
friend of a friend gave us the num-
ber for Beth. She said she would
be someone who could help with
things like renting a car and an
apartment"
Turns out they never needed
either.
Vered, Ido and Yanay Porat shortly after
They drove Brandvain's car
Yanay's second eye surgery
while she borrowed from friends
Susie and Bill Graham of West
Bloomfield and a few others.
"They are very thankful and appre-
"We bonded almost immediately,
ciative of the support, friendship and
and we wanted them to stay with us,"
generosity that kept on coming:'
Brandvain said. "I didn't want them to
A friend loaned Brandvain a car
be alone:'
seat and portable crib for the first
During the course of their time
week; after that she borrowed equip-
here, two friends of the Brandvains — ment from Detroit Baby Drive, which
Shari and Alon Kaufman of Orchard
loans baby items to members of the
Lake and Carol and Mark DeVore of
Jewish community.
West Bloomfield — also opened their
"We began with nothing and sud-
homes for the young family to stay.
denly we had a baby seat and a crib,"
Ido said. "And we had a telephone
Amazing Doctors
from the Robinsons [Davida and
"Yanay's ophthalmologist, Dr.
Warren of Franklin] and dinners at
Michael Trese [of Associated Retinal
their house and at Marty and Judy
Consultants] does surgery at William
Liebman's [Farmington Hills] home.
Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak,
"We got wonderful things from
and apparently is the world's fore-
Kim Schon [of West Bloomfield]," Ido
most expert on these conditions,"
said of baby items including a bouncy
Brandvain said. "Parents bring their
seat, baby carrier and car seat cover.
children from everywhere after being
Schon's young children also overheard
told they won't see."
Yanay's story and separated out their
Yanay had multiple doctor visits
musical and noisy toys for him to
and two surgical procedures, one on
listen to.
each eye. The first was done by one of
"Other friends brought food to our
Trese's partner, Dr. Kimberly Drenser,
house Brandvain said. "Dany and Itzi
and the second by Trese.
Saar [of West Bloomfield] took them
"The day before the first surgery,
to dinner, showed them around town,
Dr. Trese explained what would take
were shopping guides and provided
place Brandvain said. "By the time
them with coupons:'
we got home we had a lot of questions
Lisa Soble Siegmann, Federation's
so we called our friends, Drs. Amy
associate director of Jewish
and Steve Dunn.
Experiences for Families and Informal
"She is a pediatrician and he is an
Education, arranged for tickets for
ophthalmologist, a cornea special-
Vered and Ido to go to the Palace of
ist, and has actually worked with Dr.
Auburn Hills to watch the Maccabi Tel
Trese's team:' she said. "Steve talked
Aviv-Detroit Piston basketball game,
to the doctor and then came over to
while Beth and Avi babysat. Avi also
explain everything to Vered and Ido.
took Ido to the Oct. 3 Michigan chap-
He even brought a poster and a model ter of the Friends of the Israel Defense
Forces dinner.
of an eye. They have both been avail-
able to explain, answer questions and
Yanay's Vision
help out:'
Even with the success of the surgeries,
Community Embrace
Yanay will not have complete sight.
"Vered and Ido are in awe of our won-
Village Of Friends on page 22
derful community," Brandvain said.