| Women with cancer, women whose husbands suffer from cancer and mothers of cancer enjoyed a brief hiatus from their agonizing daily routine, when they were treated by Ezer Mizion to a day of fun and pampering at Tel Aviv's luxurious Sheraton City Tower.
For the first three hours, the women took turns at various stations: workshops in make-up application, manicure, flower arranging, painting on glass, beading and other crafts, while musicians played live background music added much to the idyllic atmosphere.
Actor and comedian Assaf Eshtar regaled the audience with Israeli songs, and after an elaborate lunch, stand-up artist Yaakov Cohen gave a side-splitting performance.
It was interesting to wander among the various workshops and listen in to snatches of conversation that went on between the women and the make-up artists, manicurists and other workshop demonstrators.
The event's relaxing atmosphere opened the women's hearts, enabling them to share the day to day challenges and difficulties that the illness brings.
"This is an island of sanity in a crazy existence," one of the women defined the day. "I feel as if I am living the constant concern for my children and husband, running from the hospital to my home and back again in order to minimize the damage at home as much as possible.
"Today, for once, I was able to make time for myself, to try and forget everything and live the moment to its fullest. Events like these give so much strength. Someone who never experienced what we are going through could never understand what it means to us." At the conclusion of the event, a complimentary beauty kit gift pack awaited every mother, containing a rich variety of luxurious beauty products donated by leading companies in Israel, leaving each of the women with an expensive and very personal souvenir from a marvelous day. |
