Soroka Magazine

‏ November 2014

‏ Soroka Medical Center during Operation Protective Edge

Soroka Medical Center

AMessage from the Director of Soroka Medical Center

As these pages go to print and as the ceasefire continues to hold, we are looking back at the fifty days of Operation Protective Edge. These were fifty days of fighting and standing firm both on the battlefront and on the home front, and fifty days of Soroka’s staff fighting heroically to save the lives of our wounded soldiers. ‏ Soroka is only too experienced in responding to emergencies, expertly switching from routine to crisis mode. We moved unprotected wards t o protected, missile-proof areas, reinforced our teams, and prepared for long, hard days and many casualties.

‏ While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers fought for us in the Gaza Strip, we fought to save the lives of the injured soldiers in the ER, the Trauma Unit, the operating rooms, and the intensive care units.

‏ We did our utmost to return the wounded soldiers to their mothers and fathers. Working tirelessly, simply refusing to go home, the staff demonstrated their unflagging dedication to the fulfillment of this crucially important mission. ‏ We were uplifted by the immeasurable support and gratitude of the injured and their families, VIPs, throngs of concerned c itizens, and colleagues. The media was warm and positive in its coverage, highlighting Soroka’s professional medical care and exceptional organization. ‏ This was a test of our ability to function optimally in a prolonged emergency situation, and we passed it with flying colors. Exhibiting remarkable dedication, our staff proved that when professionalism is combined with caring and empathy, the sky's the limit.

‏ The media coverage of the wonderful work of our teams put the spotlight on Soroka’s well-deserved place in the Israeli health system and as a national asset that must be nurtured and supported.

‏ I am confident that we will know how to respond to any future challenges that arise. Above all, I am proud to head a hospital with such an outstanding and dedicated staff.

‏ I sincerely hope that the future will bring long-lasting peace and calm.

Dr. Ehud Davidson ‏ Director of the Southern District of Clalit Health Services and ‏ Soroka Medical Center

On the cover: A flower for an injured soldier. Photograph by: Rachel David

Published by Soroka Medical Center - External Affairs Unit Photographs by: Rachel David, Dina Frankel Send comments to: OrnaMy@clalit.org.il

2| Soroka

‏ The Medical Iron Dome of the South

‏ Soroka during Operation Protective Edge: 50 days of fighting, 60 helicopter landings, 1,263 wounded and heroic battles to save soldiers' lives

‏ During Operation Protective Edge, as in previous rounds of fighting in the South, Soroka Medical Center was at the forefront of treating the wounded. But this time, in terms of the scope of activities, this was a war in the fullest sense of the word. The hospital admitted most of the IDF soldiers injured during the operation. During the 50 days of warfare 1,263 injured were treated, among them 777 soldiers and 486 civilians, of whom 60 were severely injured. There were more than 60 helicopter landings on the hospital's helipad, evacuating the wounded from the Gaza Strip. Some 140 surgical procedures were carried out by surgeons from various specialties. Many of the operations were extremely complex and the surgical teams worked with tireless dedication and professional excellence.

‏ The intensive pace of the wounded arriving throughout the day and night and the severity of their injuries were reminiscent of the situation during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, as Soroka’s veteran staff recall. The Trauma Unit, emergency rooms, operating rooms, imaging facilities, labs and hospital wards worked around the clock, providing immediate responses for every patient. The impressive mobilization of all the hospital teams enabled us to provide optimal treatment to the injured, as we continued to deliver medical care to the residents of the Negev—all of this under missile fire and constant concern about family and children at home. Many civilians suffered from emotional trauma and were treated by a staff of psycho-social professionals. ‏ One of the images etched in the national collective memory is that of Omri Michaeli, a reserve soldier in an elite unit, who was treated in the Plastic Surgery Department. Omri was wounded by a bullet in his leg and when taken from the helicopter was covered with an Israeli flag. Colonel Raslan Alian, Golani Brigade Commander, sustained a serious eye injury on the first day of the fighting at Shejaiya. He was treated in the ER and hospitalized in the Ophthalmology Department. Several days later he was discharged and returned to his soldiers in the field. ‏ Another severely injured soldier from the Golani Brigade, Ran Abutbul, arrived with half of his face shattered. A multidisciplinary team, including otorhinolaryngologists, oral and maxillofacial specialists, and plastic surgeons succeeded in restoring his face in a particularly complicated surgery. ‏ Ohad Ben Ishai, a combat soldier in the Egoz Unit, was evacuated with severe head injuries and underwent two complex emergency operations, one after the other, carried out by the neurosurgery medical team. For seemingly endless days he was in a coma and connected to a ventilator, so it was an especially emotional event in the ICU when the staff bid farewell to Ohad and his family as he was transferred for rehabilitation. ‏ Lieutenant Colonel Y., commander of the elite Egoz Unit, arrived at the hospital hovering between life and death. The unique treatment provided by vascular surgeons at Soroka repaired his torn blood vessels by means of catheterization, saving his life. Daniel Fish, a

soldier in an elite unit, was evacuated with severe leg injuries and a shattered right hand. His knees were restored by orthopedic trauma specialists in a series of operations. ‏ Among civilians as well, the heartwarming stories are countless. The story of Rivka Hayisraeli, whose husband Yehuda was evacuated from Gaza with a severe head injury, operated on several times, and hospitalized in critical condition in the ICU, brings tears to the eyes. Rivka, who did not leave his bedside for a moment, gave birth to their son at the adjacent Saban Maternity Center at Soroka. The emotional brit mila, the circumcision ceremony, was conducted next to the ICU, in the presence of Yehuda and dozens of guests of the family, including members of Yehuda's army unit. ‏ It was exactly this intensity that placed Soroka at the center of interest of the media. Local and international news teams broadcast live from the hospital throughout the day and night. Dozens of respected figures came to the hospital, from the President of the State of Israel and the Prime Minister to Knesset members, public officials, artists, and singers. ‏ We witnessed many special moments: soldiers who regained consciousness in the ICU after periods of sedation and mechanical ventilation and immediately asked to return to their units; poignant reunions between patients and their friends who came to visit from the battlefield; entertainers who sang by the bedsides of the injured, warming the hearts of patients and their families; staff members who refused to go home to rest, remaining instead at their posts; hundreds of citizens who came to express their support to the injured soldiers and the staff, bringing them all sorts of treats. Here, in the corridors of Soroka, Israel was at its finest hour—united, mobilized, and strong. ‏ These were truly exceptional days at Soroka and they will have a place of honor in the hospital's history. While the soldiers were fighting in Gaza for us, we were fighting for the lives of their comrades in arms. After fifty days of combat, we returned to routine, but with the knowledge that this was not the last round of battle and that many challenges still lay before us. The Soroka teamwill always be ready to save lives and to give their all for the sake of our mission, for the IDF, for the residents of the South and for the people of Israel.

3| Soroka

60 helicopter landings People with a long history at Soroka relate that during Operation Protective Edge, the frequency and number of helicopter landings at Soroka were the highest since the YomKippurWar (1973). Sixty times during the operation, helicopters landed here, evacuating wounded soldiers from the southern front. The combination of first-rate care in the field, helicopter evacuation, and speedy professional treatment by Soroka teams saved the lives of many of the soldiers who were seriously injured in battle.

4| Soroka

The Trauma Unit ready to receive the injured

Wartime at the hospital Soroka staff members are adept at making rapid preparations for emergency situations in all realms of the hospital's activities at the medical, operational, and logistical levels. Whether in the Situation Room or the Trauma Unit, a large number of reinforced teams were able to address every need, starting frommoving the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and other unprotected departments to missile-proof, protected areas to attending to the many families coming to the hospital, managing responses to the media, and most importantly of all, providing devoted, professional medical treatment to the injured soldiers.

In an expedited operation that took place the night of the start of the escalation, more than 50 newborns, including 23 premature infants, five of them on respirators, were transferred in a matter of a few hours to a protected area in the Saban Maternity Center at Soroka.

5| Soroka

Sergeant First Class Omri Michaeli became one of the icons of the war after being evacuated to Soroka Medical Center by helicopter covered in an Israeli flag. He was treated in the Plastic Surgery Department due to a bullet wound in his leg. (Photo: Israel Yosef)

Ohad Ben Ishai, a combat soldier in the Egoz Unit, parting from nurse Adi Harari with a kiss as he leaves for rehabilitation. Ohad was evacuated to Soroka with grave head injuries and underwent two complex head surgeries. For many days he was in an induced coma until his condition began to improve.

The brit mila (circumcision) ceremony for the newborn son of combat soldier Yehuda Hayisraeli, who was hospitalized with a severe head injury, took place adjacent to the ICU so Yehuda could be present.

An unending human drama No Hollywood script could compete with the complex reality that faced the hospital staff, a reality composed of endless human dramas and many touching moments, each one a story unto itself—injured soldiers who open their eyes, only to inquire after their comrades still at the battlefront, civilians suffering from shock and injured by rocket shrapnel, staff who worked around the clock, hopeful and worried families, scores of visitors and volunteers—the best of the people of Israel.

A very emotional encounter took place between Mrs. Maria Rachmilov from Beer-Sheva and Mr. Shimon Yunteib who rescued her from the ruins when a direct hit destroyed her home. On the right, Prof. Leonid Landsberg, Chief of the Surgery Division

Prof. Alexander Zlotnik, Dr. Gilbert Sebbag, and Adina Alir in the ICU

6| Soroka

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visiting one of the injured soldiers in the Orthopedics Department In the photographs below, from the upper right, clockwise: Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, former President of the State of Israel Shimon Peres, Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, and President of the State of Israel Reuven Rivlin

National leaders visit Soroka The Prime Minister, the President of the State of Israel, the former President of the State of Israel, ministers and Knesset members, rabbis and community leaders, local council heads and public officials, the Chief of Staff and IDF commanders— all of them came to Soroka to visit the injured IDF soldiers and express appreciation to the caregivers. Dr. Ehud Davidson, Director of Soroka Medical Center, and senior members of the administration accompanied them on their visits to the patients.

7| Soroka

Bringing joy to the injured Alongside politicians and officials, many ordinary folk came to encourage the injured soldiers and their families. The constant shower of gifts and sweets, and the unending expressions of love surprised the soldiers. "I had a very special experience in the ward as the beautiful people of Israel came to visit, offering support, a warm embrace, appreciation, and gratitude," wrote injured reserve duty soldier AlonVilozni in a letter to the head of the department where he was hospitalized.

Visitors at Soroka From the upper left, clockwise: Minister of Health Yael German; Rabbi Yehiel Eckstein, President of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, which donated a protected, missile- proof operating room and a portable CT unit to Soroka; Minister of Finance Yair Lapid; former Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball players, holding the Euroleague trophy; Minister of Welfare and Social Services Meir Cohen; MK Miri Regev; Minister of Education Shai Piron

8| Soroka

Gadi Cohen, Clalit Deputy CEO and Head of Human Resources, and Dr. Dorit Weiss, Head Nurse at Clalit Health Services

Eli Admoni, Chairman of the Board of Clalit Health Services, in the Situation Roomwith Dr. Ehud Davidson, Director of Soroka Medical Center.

Clalit Health Services CEO Eli Defes visiting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which was moved to a protected, missile-proof area.

The pride of Clalit Health Services Clalit’s senior management came to Soroka to express their appreciation to the hospital staff, making a personal visit to convey their deep gratitude for their wonderful work, whichwas reported by themedia, broadcast directly and continuously from the hospital, bringing Soroka into the consciousness of everyone in Israel.

In-house day camps opened in protected areas for the children of Soroka employees made it possible for their parents to continue working in a calm and orderly manner. Top row center: The media tent set up in the ER area

9| Soroka

Shlomi Shabat, Mosh Ben-Ari, and Sarit Hadad, the“mentors”of the television program "The Voice," entertaining the injured. Below, from the left, clockwise: Guy Zoaretz and Yael Bar-Zohar, Barry Sacharov, Miri Mesika, David D'Or, and Kobi Aflalo, MK Ofir Akunis with Israel Katorza and Mariano Idelman, smiling newmothers. During Operation Protective Edge, Soroka’s Saban Maternity Center recorded one of the busiest days in its history, with 66 births!

Be happy! That's an order! Israeli entertainers, singers and actors, television stars, and popular media figures also“worked shifts” in the wards, bringing smiles to the faces of the injured soldiers, and instilling hope and strength in the families. The impressive mobilization of celebrities and artists filled the hospital corridors with music, singing, and joy, touched the hearts of all those present, and reflected the enormous sense of solidarity and empathy that pervaded Israeli society during Operation Protective Edge.

10| Soroka

Your support is important to us. Join the Friends of Soroka Medical Center for the sake of IDF soldiers and the residents of the Negev.

Orna Myara Director of External Affairs and Friends of Soroka Medical Center

e-mail: ornamy@clalit.org.il Office: 972-8-6403963 I  Fax: 972-8-6365478 Cell: 972-50-6260562

Soroka Medical Center