*some details were changed to protect the privacy of the family

Little Alma woke up in the middle of the night crying in anguish. Her mother, Jana, tried everything to soothe her cries, but nothing seemed to help the severe stomach pain Alma was experiencing. Alma had always been a healthy and happy toddler, so as her condition worsened, Jana feared the worst. Jana wrapped her daughter in a blanket and rushed her to the emergency room at Shamir Medical Centre.

Alma was immediately admitted to the CHW Debbie Eisenberg and Gary Levene Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), where the experienced medical team were quickly able to stabilize her. After a series of tests in the new, state-of-the-art facilities, an ultrasound of the abdomen revealed that Alma had swallowed five small magnetic balls, pieces from a toy recently given to her older sister.

Dr. Adi Kanushi (see image), one of Alma’s pediatric surgeons, said, “This was a life-threatening medical condition that could worsen to the point of creating a hole in the intestine and a widespread infection in the entire abdomen.”

Lucky for Alma, the surgical team at the CHW PICU was able to successfully remove all the magnets, leaving the little girl with no permanent damage.

With the ordeal now behind them, Jana was relieved to share:

“We had no idea that Alma swallowed anything; let alone something so hazardous. It was the scariest night of our lives, but we felt reassured the minute we walked into the CHW PICU. We knew that our daughter was in the most caring and capable hands. As parents, we’re so grateful to the entire team for their life-saving work.”

The Shamir Medical Centre (Assaf Harofeh) has been flooded with Thank You letters from patients and families affected by COVID-19.

Galia, a patient who was recently treated for COVID-19, wrote this moving letter:

‘I arrived at Shamir Hospital (Assaf Harofeh) a week ago with a serious respiratory condition and after five hours of check-ups and tests, I was admitted into the Coronavirus Ward. I was immediately greeted by a nurse named Ibrahim, who was full of compassion and empathy. He took great care of me and helped me calm down.

The next day I met another amazing nurse, named Etty. I simply don’t have enough words to express my gratitude for her as well. She is a ray of light, a true professional and also so warm and humane. Thanks to her, I am alive today.

I was literally met by angels in the midst of such a difficult, isolating and scary place. A place where you struggle for each breath. I knew I had to keep fighting off the virus, because if I didn’t relax and breathe- I simply will cease to be. It was absolutely frightening.   

Beyond the physical pain, there are also the mental health challenges. I’m so lucky I received such a wonderful nurse. She was my lifeguard and kept encouraging me. She never gave up on me.

To the incredible team: Thank you for all you have done for me. You have saved my life and for that I’m hugely grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Photo Credit: Yifat Hadad

On January 11, 2021, Hadassah Medical Center, along with Hadassah International, offered a webinar on optimum vaccination protocols for nursing home residents to the director and medical director of Maimonides Zentrum home for the aged, located in Vienna, Austria.

Experts from Hadassah Medical Center offered their experience in managing vaccination logistics, including the factors to consider when deciding who gets vaccinated first. This seminar was part of a Hadassah International outreach initiative aimed at reaching out to the Jewish communities of Europe to forge connections. Watch the seminar below:

See the original article here: http://hadassahinternational.org/hadassah-experts-advise-vienna-nursing-home-on-vaccination-protocols/ 

“Angles in White” were the words Israel’s Minister of Health, Yuli Edelstein, used to describe the dedicated medical team he met at Shamir Medical Centre (Assah Harofeh’s) Coronavirus Unit. 

As Israel continues to grapple with a second wave of COVID-19 cases, officials reached out to the hospital for insights and access to the critical work being done on the frontlines.

“Nothing is as effective as seeing it for yourself,” explains Dr. Osnat Levtzion-Korach, Director General of Shamir Medical Centre, who led the minister through a number of departments, including The Emergency Ward, one of Israel’s busiest, due to the large catchment area the hospital serves.

As the number of hospitalized COOVID-19 patients continues to rise, Dr. Levtzion-Korach shares how important the visit was for understanding the challenges faced by frontline workers:

“Even at the first stage of personal protection, it all seems simple. You put on a mask, you wear a gown and you go in. But once you do it yourself, you begin to understand how complex, uncomfortable, and hot it is. We were only walking around the unit, not even treating patients, or washing or lifting them. Only once you’ve experienced it, can you begin to understand how the whole issue of protection is not a trivial matter at all.”  

The Minister spent time speaking to patients in the ward, who were relatively younger- in their 40s, 50s and 60s. One patient, a young professional engineer, shared; “I came back from the dead.” He battled the virus for weeks in hospital and thanked the medical team for helping him pull through.

Reflecting on his visit, the Minister shared: 

“Today, for the first time, I myself entered the Coronavirus Ward at Shamir Medical Centre- of course, armed with the best protective equipment possible. It was not an easy experience.  It felt terribly hot and humid inside the overalls. I only experienced it for one hour of one day. Imagine what the doctors and nurses who work 24/7 in the Corona Wards must feel. Israel’s medical professionals are truly incredible.”

Photo Credit:  Itzik Biron