Forest Hills Family Rallies Community Support Amid Health Crisis
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By MOHAMED FARGHALY | mfarghaly@queensledger.com
The Atias family from Forest Hills is enduring a tough period as Arielle Leigh Atias battles a severe autoimmune disease, leading to multiple hospitalizations. Photo courtesy of Deborah Atias
The Atias family, longtime residents of Forest Hills, are currently facing a challenging period as Arielle Leigh Atias, who suffers from an autoimmune disease, has been hospitalized multiple times this year. To help ease the burden on the family, her twin sister Rachel has organized a Meal Train to provide necessary support.
To ease their burden, her sister Rachel has organized a Meal Train to provide crucial support through meals and financial donations, highlighting the community’s compassion and solidarity. Photo courtesy of Deborah Atias
Meal Train is a planned method that allows friends and relatives to bring home-cooked meals to someone who is going through a difficult moment. It’s a considerate method to make sure the receiver doesn’t have to worry about cooking or grocery shopping during a significant life event.
Arielle’s current hospitalization marks one of several stays in the past few months, as she battles recurring symptoms that have gradually started to improve. Despite finding a specialist five years ago and receiving treatment at Lenox Hill Hospital, Arielle continues to experience severe flares. This has placed significant emotional, physical, and financial stress on the family. Arielle’s mother, Deborah, a single parent, and her twin sister, who is also on the Autism Spectrum, have been constant companions at the hospital.
“”We found the right doctor that actually knew what to do with it about five years ago, and she’s been in treatment,” Arielle’s mother, Deborah said. ” It’s an autoimmune disease, and she has flares from time to time.”
The family’s tight-knit community has become their lifeline. Rachel Atias set up a Meal Train®, a platform allowing people to donate meals or money. Given the family’s specific dietary restrictions—gluten-free, dairy-free, and organic food—financial donations for food delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats have been especially helpful.
“My other daughter Rachel decided to create a meal train on the meal train app, so people either can cook you a meal according to Kosher or food allergies, or donate cash,” Deborah said.
Arielle’s condition requires constant care and attention, particularly because of Autism.
“She’s high-functioning but needs me by her side to navigate hospital procedures,” Deborah said. “Hospital staff here are amazing and understand her needs, but it’s still a challenge.”
Despite the hardships, the Atias family remains resilient, often turning their hospital room into a home away from home with art and decorations.
“We’ve celebrated birthdays, holidays, and even made it feel like a home,” she said. “There’s a lot of love in this hospital anyway, but there’s something about twins and my daughter’s just very charming. People will sometimes rearrange their schedule to go into a procedure with her.”
The community’s response has been heartwarming in response to what this Forest Hills Family is going through.
“Since she’s created the meal train thing, it’s been really helpful,” Deborah said. “The community has come together in a way that shows humanity and kindness.”
For those who wish to contribute to the Atias family’s Meal Train®, donations can be made through the provided link at mealtrain.com/trains/gm79qo/. Every contribution helps lighten their load and brings them one step closer to a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos.
As the Atias family navigates this difficult journey, they are buoyed by the support of their Forest Hills community, the Autism community and beyond.
