Nathaniel Haokip (second from left) with family

Nathaniel (Ngamkholun) Haokip, 55, recently made aliyah from Manipur with his wife and three of his five children. But a serious illness almost took him from this world before he was be able to see the day he dreamed about for so long. He tells his story here.  

"Last June Shavei Israel selected my family to make aliyah this year. But as the time to leave approached, I became very sick and needed to be hospitalized. Eventually, the doctors advised me to have an operation. At first I hesitated - with aliyah just around the corner, I was afraid I might miss the chance to go, after waiting patiently for so long. However my condition was critical - I was between life and death. I had no choice but to agree to the surgery.

"My caretakers at the hospital thought I was almost at the end of my days and were already in tears. But with my great hope and faith in Hashem (G-d), the operation was successful and I am now back to normal. My recovery was like a miracle, for they never thought I would make it. But I did! And then I was able to make aliyah with my family!"