“I was inspired to take on this fundraising initiative because of my aunt,” Vivian shared. “I wanted to support her and people that are going through the same thing because my aunt is important to me.”
Vivian’s aunt Jenny is a patient at Mount Sinai’s Center for Post-COVID Care, where she receives comprehensive and personalized treatment from a range of specialists. Since long COVID is still a relatively new phenomenon, many patients find that their family, friends, and sometimes health care providers are dismissive of their symptoms. Vivian intends to change this by raising awareness through her fundraising, and facilitating conversations around long COVID.
“I hope that people take away that long COVID is a serious illness and needs more research. I hope more people learn about long COVID so they can understand what my aunt is going through and the millions of others,” Vivian said.
Vivian's commitment to understanding her aunt's struggles and her advocacy for others who are suffering illustrate the compassion and responsibility that are hallmarks of bar and bat Mitzvahs. This rite of passage to adulthood in the Jewish community calls on teens to connect their Jewish values with real-world action. For Vivian, that action was pretty clear: “I wanted to combine important things in my life as my Bat Mitzvah project.”
As a competitive swimmer in the Tri-State area, Vivian chose a swim challenge of 200 laps—no small undertaking—which required extensive preparation and motivation. “I was in the middle of championship season, so my training for my team ramped up before this, and my friend helped me create a set to complete the 200 laps in less than 1.75 hours,” Vivian said.
With guidance from Mount Sinai’s fundraising department and her mom’s support, Vivian created a personal fundraising page where she was able to share her story and watch as she reached, then surpassed, her initial goal.
The experience has not only empowered Vivian but has also deepened the bond between her and her aunt. Reflecting on their relationship, she said, “This journey has brought us closer together through knowledge. I have learned a lot about long COVID and about what my Aunt Jenny is experiencing and how her illness affects her and my cousins.”
Feeling inspired? You can start your own fundraiser or contact our office for assistance: giving [at] mountsinai.org (giving[at]mountsinai[dot]org)
