Recently, a family found themselves at Rambam Health Care Campus (Rambam) in Haifa, Israel, witnessing their family history repeat itself under remarkably similar wartime circumstances.
Twenty-one-year-old Avi* always wanted to serve in the IDF Combat Engineering Corps. A short while ago, while serving with comrades from the elite Yahalom Unit in Southern Lebanon, he was seriously wounded in a Hezbollah drone attack. He was evacuated to Rambam, where his parents, Haim and Michal, his two younger sisters, and his grandmother gathered outside his room.
Thirty-two years ago, a remarkably similar story unfolded when Avi's father, Haim Weiss, was injured in Lebanon and airlifted to Rambam. At the time, his anxious mother was by his side, encouraging her son throughout his recovery.
Now, history has repeated itself. Haim and his mother are again at Rambam, this time while Avi is treated in the hospital’s Department of Critical Care Medicine.
“I was wounded in Lebanon in 1994 as part of a paratrooper unit operating near the village of Sujud,” recalls Haim. “I was evacuated by helicopter to Rambam, and now my mother and I are here again.”
For Avi's grandmother, the return to Rambam brought back memories of the difficult days she spent at the hospital after Haim was wounded. More than 30 years later, she has again found herself at Rambam, this time hoping for her grandson’s recovery. Although concerned for him, she is confident, “My grandson is strong, and he will get through this.”
According to Haim, Avi lost a significant amount of blood and his life was in immediate danger. He credits the rapid medical response in the field with saving the lives of his son and two other soldiers from the Yahalom Unit who were wounded in the attack. Praising the Rambam medical team, he too expressed hope that his son would gradually recover.
For a family that has already experienced a similar ordeal, the days ahead are painfully familiar. All are aware that Avi faces a challenging road to recovery.
Two other soldiers wounded in the same attack were also airlifted and admitted to Rambam. We wish them a speedy and full recovery.
*Name changed to protect his identity
Based on an original article that first appeared on Ynet News.
