A Father's Heartwarming Act: Comforting His Daughter During an MRI
When Itai's two-and-a-half-year-old daughter needed an MRI without sedation, he naturally joined her inside the machine, soothing and comforting her. The touching image went viral, moving thousands.
Two-and-a-half-year-old Ofri Bitan, a cancer patient being treated at Ichilov Hospital, had to undergo an MRI scan. Despite her young age, the procedure was conducted without sedation. This seemingly impossible feat was made possible by her father, Itai, who joined her in the machine, touching hearts across the internet.
Dr. Liat Ben Sira, head of the pediatric imaging unit at Ichilov, explains: "In an MRI machine, you're not allowed to move, which is why children up to the age of 7 usually undergo the procedure under sedation. Our goal is to minimize sedation, avoid risking the children, and prioritize using the MRI, which is radiation-free, over a CT scanner. For the first time in Israel, we allowed a two-and-a-half-year-old cancer patient to undergo this procedure without sedation, with her father holding her close and calming her throughout, ensuring she remained still."
For Itai, it was only natural to enter with his little girl: "I wanted her to be calm and not stressed. I held her hands, stroked her, talked to her. At least I managed to spare her another sedation. For me, it's not an act of heroism, just the most basic thing a dad would do for his daughter."
