NATALIE EICHELBAUM’S LIFE CHANGED WHEN SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER AT NINE YEARS OLD By: Dalia Caplan Garfinkel
Well, I saw a flier one day and it looked really interesting. So I decided to try it, and I loved it,” says Natalie Eichelbaum in her soft, southern drawl. Natalie, from Savannah, Georgia, tells me her story happily and enthusiastically, about how she came to NCSY and the things she loves so much about it. And what I find most astonishing about her story is not how much she loves NCSY, the leadership she exhibits in her region or her dedication. It is all the things she faced before NCSY and how her journey led her to where she is today. When Natalie was nine years old, she started suffering from some odd symptoms. With swollen joints and other intensely uncomfortable symptoms, Natalie went to see doctors and specialists. Diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, Natalie began undergoing treatment but nothing seemed to work. Visits to specialists, holistic treatments, acupuncture and shots, Natalie and her parents tried everything but to no avail. Finally, on August 5, 2005, Natalie and her family arrived at Memorial Hospital where they were told the devastating truth: Natalie was suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia—a form of cancer where malignant white blood cells overproduce in the bone marrow and invade other organs, forcing healthy cells to die. “Yes, it was really frustrating to be misdiagnosed at first, putting all that effort in,” says Natalie. “But at least when I found out what was wrong, I could do something about it. I finally knew what to fix.” And so, Natalie fought. All the treatments were painful, some more than others. “I remember they had to do one test to make sure the cancer hadn’t spread to my brain,” remembers Natalie. Overall, Natalie remembers her experiences with the clarity of a student and the wisdom of an adult. As she writes in her college essay, “I did not know the reason I had this illness but I knew now what I had and could move forward. I am who I am today because of my experiences.” Natalie beat the cancer and has remained cancer free ever since.
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After beating the cancer, Natalie continued to fight the disease in her own unique and driven way: she started a non-profit organization to help kids battling the disease and it has raised more than $50,000. Natalie’s journey transformed her into a purpose-driven individual and she continued to seek meaning in her life as she grew older. NCSY was the perfect outlet for her desire to strive forward and upward. When she reached high school, Natalie saw a flier for an NCSY Shabbaton and has continued to grow there, never looking back. Natalie’s favorite part of NCSY is reaching out to new people in the region and on Shabbatons and making them feel at home. Given her warm and outgoing nature, it comes as no surprise that she is on her chapter board and connects with people of all ages and backgrounds. “She was instrumental in kicking off a new chapter board in Savannah, was an active member on the board and assisted in Savannah – the nation’s oldest NCSY chapter – receiving the Chapter of the Year award,” said Rabbi Lob, NCSY City Director of Savannah. “Natalie also went on The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ), an NCSY summer program.” Natalie herself gushed about TJJ, describing her favorite parts and new experiences of the program. This year, Natalie is currently attending Israel XP, Bar Ilan University’s American gap year program, on a full scholarship granted to her by Yeshiva University. When asked what her future plans include, Natalie says she wants to be a pediatric oncologist and credits her own pediatric oncologist for being an inspiration. “I really matured during that year and gained so much knowledge of medications, medical procedures and diseases. I want to save children’s lives and inspire children and their families with my story.”
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