36 | APRIL 27 • 2023 

tomized anus — was created by the famed 
Dr. Alberto Pena of Colorado, who invent-
ed this surgery only 40 years ago. Dr. Pena 
is now over age 80; little Dovid Berman was 
one of his last patients. 
Along with this diagnosis, Dovid also 
has a chromosomal abnormality so rare no 
studies have been done about it. 
“He has a whole bunch of ‘smaller things’ 
going on,
” added Bayla. “Dovid is deaf in 
one ear, has epilepsy and is very develop-
mentally delayed.
”
As any parent of a child with special 
needs can attest, raising such a child is a 
full-time job and can be emotionally drain-
ing. Their calendars are filled with thera-
pies, doctors’ appointments and hospital 
stays, and their hearts beat a different tune, 
always anticipating the next health scare. 
“It’s hard, exhausting and, at times, very 
lonely,
” Bayla said. “People don’t always 
understand, even when they try … and it 
can be painful to watch other kids who are 
the same age as yours, see them do normal 
things your own child will never do.
”

LEARNING FROM DOVID
But there’s definitely a flip-side. Dovid’s 
smile has been known to lift the mood of 
even the most unsuspecting passerby. He 
often beams his radiant and wholehearted 
smile at the congregants of Young Israel of 
Oak Park, where his family are members, 
and inevitably ends up spreading good 
cheer, even without saying a single word. 

“Dovid is super smiley and extremely 
social. He loves to play, be around and 
interact with people. He’s always giving 
hugs and kisses,
” Bayla said. 
Dovid’s warmth and positivity is a con-
stant source of inspiration for his family and 
those around him. 
“He’s always smiling,
” Sruly said. “There 
are many times he’s smiling when any other 
kid in the same position would naturally 
be sad or crying. Not Dovid! He’s always 
showing me that he can power through any 
obstacle.
”
Big brother Zevy, 8, concurs. “I learn 
from Dovid that when you work hard, you 
can do anything. Plus, he’s really fun to look 
at when he’s happy because he just looks so 
cute!”
When parents have a child with special 
needs, they sometimes feel they are no 

longer the same person they once were. 
They have new priorities and a different 
perspective. 

UNPLANNED ADVENTURES
“Life does not always go according to plan,
” 
Bayla said. “My family had to cancel three 
family trips in the last year alone because 
of Dovid’s medical emergencies. Dovid has 
taught me patience. I’ve learned to take 
whatever life throws at us and just take it 
one step at a time.
”
Actually, the unplanned pivots of life 
usually wind up being the most memorable. 

continued on page 38

Sruly and Bayla help 
big brother Zevy cut 
Dovid’s hair. 

The decor with 
cubed centerpieces 
of Dovid’s pictures,

ABOVE: The adorable cake, courtesy of 
Dovid’s grandpa. RIGHT: Circus admission 
cookie and tzizit cookie .

continued from page 34