Stories of Hope

The story of Schneider Children's: how it became Israel's leading pediatric hospital and why philanthropy drives it to go above and beyond.

AJ collapsed at a playground. Doctors at Schneider Children's discovered a massive brain tumor they couldn't surgically remove. Then came a breakthrough.

Alex's only kidney failed when he was too small for a transplant. Schneider Children's kept him alive with dialysis while he grew. Then he was ready.

When 12-year-old Alma first complained of shoulder pain, nobody in her family was alarmed. Her parents figured it was a sports injury—maybe muscle strain from the cold. Even the orthopedic specialists found nothing unusual and recommended physical therapy.

Children are 25% of the population—and receive just 1.6% of health-tech investment. Schneider Children's is changing that.

In November 2023, following the October 7 attacks, Schneider Children's provided care to 19 children released from captivity, along with six mothers and two grandmothers. Faced with an unprecedented challenge and no clinical roadmap, a multidisciplinary team of physicians and mental health professionals developed an entirely new treatment protocol for child hostages returning from prolonged captivity. This video documents those first moments of return and the beginning of recovery.

Bissan was born healthy. Genetic testing during her mother’s pregnancy was normal. Her birth was without complications. For the first few months, everything in the baby girl’s life seemed fine. There appeared to be some weakness on the left side of the baby girl’s body, but her parents assumed that would resolve on its own. 

Filmed in October 2023, this video shows how Schneider Children's rapidly relocated patients to fortified floors during missile attacks—transforming protected neonatal units into fully functioning emergency, intensive care, and surgical spaces while maintaining uninterrupted care with the support of staff and volunteers.

When Uri, a Givati commando, died of wounds sustained in Gaza, his family made a profound decision amidst their searing grief: to donate Uri’s organs. 

Shirel, a nine-year-old girl from Be'er Sheva, was born with a severely undeveloped kidney. This condition ran in her family. Years earlier, Shirel’s uncle underwent a kidney transplantation at Schneider Children's Medical Hospital. Israel's only stand-alone pediatric hospital, Schneider’s provides life-saving care to children from every community. Regardless of religion, color or ethnicity. 

Aminehon, a six-year-old boy from Ethiopia, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect late last year. His doctors in Addis Ababa recommended open-heart surgery, but his family, planning to make Aliyah and reunite with relatives in Lod, decided to wait and seek treatment in Israel.

Even before Santiago was born, his parents knew he would require medical attention. Prenatal testing confirmed that Santiago would have a cleft lip and palate—a congenital condition that affects feeding, speech, hearing, and facial development.