Avivit Barak
A Little About Me
Hello everyone, I'm Avivit Barak, 48 years old, a mother of two grown children, and for the past five years, I've been grappling with multiple myeloma. At 42, after a year of not feeling well, I went to the nearest emergency center late at night and from there was hospitalized for tests .
About a week later, I was pacing the corridor of the internal medicine department, restless and waiting for my PET CT results. I encountered an intern and asked him if he could check if the results had arrived. I followed him to the computer, he opened the results, and let me stand behind him to read the words "widespread lytic lesions." I asked him what it meant. He said it was blood cancer! That's how I found out. Needless to say, it was traumatic. I was alone, in the middle of the night. I went outside, sat across the road, saw a truck, and thought maybe I should jump and end this predestined saga... Then, I thought of my children. I wanted to set an example for them as a mother who fights, overcomes, and rises. I returned to my room and started researching.
My Treatment Approach
The decision to be treated at the center that far away from home was not easy, as I didn't have a broad support system, but it required a commitment to my healing journey. In this journey, I refused to see myself as a patient fitting into a standard protocol. I researched the disease in all its aspects and preferred to receive treatments in low doses, without radiation or steroids, and as few aggressive drugs as possible, like chemotherapy, in order to minimize future risks and potential damage.
The storytelling essence of your journey is both harrowing and inspiring, capturing the emotional rollercoaster you've been on while also highlighting your resilience and determination.
My Therapeutic Approach
Choosing to get treated at the center was no simple feat. I didn't have a broad support system, but I was committed to my healing journey. In this journey, I refused to see myself as a mere patient fitting into a standard protocol. I researched the disease from all angles and opted for treatments with low dosages, avoiding radiation or steroids, and as few aggressive medications like chemotherapy as possible, to minimize future risks and damages.
I focus on supporting my body's detoxification and digestive systems, through cleansing, organic and healthy nutrition, rich in antioxidants and medicinal herbs.
My Path to CAR-T Treatment
Over the last five years, I've undergone four different treatment lines ,
Including VD ,stem sell transplant and VD maintenance VD , Exactly three years after the transplant, the disease returned, and the frequency of outbreaks increased.
During the relapse of the disease I received
Lenalidomide,Ixazomib,Daratumumab
Only 3 doses until a toxic side effect,
My quality of life deteriorated, productivity and vitality were reduced to two hours a day, due to side effects from various medications.
I read extensively and delved into the myriad of treatment options available, including CAR T BCMA. I focused on studying research mainly in countries with a Mediterranean diet like mine, encountered phenomenal results, and realized that I wanted to undergo this treatment as soon as possible to maximize its effectiveness and avoid dealing with the side effects associated with other treatments.
Facing the disease's complexity and the inability to return to the work or life cycle led to a decision about year ago to enter a CART BCMA ,at the Hila sheba medical center, under the management of Dr. Megan Hilla.
The CAR-T Process
The initial phase involved rapid and multiple tests—lung functions, heart mapping, blood tests, bone marrow biopsy, PET CT, and the insertion of a PICC line. The process was accompanied by pain, anxieties about the tests and their results, and endless arrangements and commitments. All this was alongside comprehensive support in all aspects from the team and family.
The cell extraction process lasted about three hours, where I assisted the machine with handwork. It was painful, exhausting, and prolonged. I chose to go through the process accompanied by Irit Barber, a spiritual guide who sang healing songs to me, combined with meditation and massages, as well as support in all aspects This support alleviated the stress and soothed the pain, keeping me focused on the process.
After the stem cells were transferred to the lab for induction into CAR-T cells, I turned to spiritual healers in a WhatsApp group created specifically for this journey. The group was called "Sacred," and I'll elaborate on it later. I received support through daily guided meditations, specifically aimed at the cells in the lab culture, with the precise intention of thriving in health and healing energy.
There's no time to rest; the work is abundant...
Then came the biopsy. Due to time constraints, I had to undergo the procedure with local anesthesia, adding another experience to the collection of traumas I've been gathering on my illness journey. Imagine a large needle penetrating your pelvic bone, extracting a sample and a bone marrow cylinder, all while I'm crying and being held by the medical team for twenty minutes.
The soul is so bewildered by the entire journey, starting from the initial discovery, through each invasive and painful test, and every intimidating and noisy machine that encloses you, adding traumas to its collection.
Stem Cell Transplant
I received chemotherapy with the infusion as preparation for the transplant over three days, followed by a day of rest. Then came the much-anticipated CAR-T team with the long-awaited transplant. Accompanied by the department's psychologist, I received the transplant through a guided meditation to relax the body, envisioning the transplant as a process of rebirth in complete harmony with my body, mind, and soul. On the same day, my body reacted to the transplant with a fever that lasted about a week. The feeling was that the engineered cells were circulating in the bloodstream, attaching to all the lesions in my body and healing them—a process accompanied by body aches, increased weakness, and prolonged fever. Yet, no dangerous event or excessive body reaction was recorded. I was careful with my diet and performed targeted meditations for the immune system. I practiced Qi Gong to open the body's energy centers and stimulate blood flow, and I listened to healing sounds for relaxation.
The recovery was swift, and after a week, I gained strength day by day and was released with great vitality on the 15th day of hospitalization. The recovery and strengthening process gradually improved over time.
The Importance of Nutrition
Throughout the process and afterward, I supported my body with high-protein, gluten-free, organic vegan nutrition. The intention was to channel the body's energy towards the immune system and give the digestive system specific and short periods for digesting nutritious and healthy meals. In addition to a nourishing organic beef bone broth prepared for me by Irith, my spiritual companion, which provided bone marrow, nourishment, and support for my blood cells and immune system. This is a type of nutrition not provided in hospital infusions and requires early organization, significant expenses, and family assistance.
The nutrition quickly strengthened and revitalized my body without prolonged or dangerous symptoms. It supported the chemotherapy I received in the first three days; the dosage was low, and the side effects were mild and lasted for two days. The nutrition gave me vitality and mental clarity, and a good mood that is required to win. It contributed to alleviating the symptoms of side effects and better coping with toxicity levels.
