Yakira Lavan, an 8-year-old girl from Ra’anana, woke up one morning with an unusually swollen face. After a visit to her pediatrician, she was immediately admitted to the pediatric ward at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, where she was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome—a rare but well-known kidney disease in children.
Her father Ilan decided to turn their personal struggle into a public cause. About two weeks ago, he ran in the London Marathon and raised £2,600 to support children suffering from the same condition. On his marathon fundraising page he wrote:
“If you’ve never heard of nephrotic syndrome—imagine your kidneys stop doing their job and start leaking protein at life-threatening levels.”
A condition that requires attention and understanding
Dr. Meidad Greenberg, head of the nephrology service at Meir Medical Center, explains that nephrotic syndrome typically affects children between the ages of 2 and 8, and if left untreated, can progress to kidney failure and the need for dialysis. In Israel, dozens of children are diagnosed with the condition—posing an ongoing medical and emotional challenge.
The Lavan family immigrated from Australia four years ago and have since come to know the support system provided by Israel’s healthcare network. Ilan shared:
“When an illness like this enters your life, you start searching online and it’s terrifying. But then you attend conferences, hear professionals speak, meet other parents—and that’s a gift.”
