Woman Collapses Visiting Daughter, Saved by Doctor in Hospital Parking Lot

Reut Shariqi, a 63-year-old Jerusalem resident, experienced a life-threatening medical emergency on a Friday morning while visiting her daughter at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. Shariqi had arrived to support her elder daughter, who was hospitalized for appendicitis and awaiting surgery. While standing near the elevators in the parking building with her sister, Shariqi suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed. Her sister immediately called for emergency medical services. Coincidentally, Dr. Ohad Einav, a senior physician from the Spine Surgery Unit, was exiting the hospital after his shift. He was alerted by a passerby to assist Shariqi, recognizing the critical nature of her condition. Dr. Einav, with the help of bystanders, initiated CPR, opened her airway, and alerted security to activate a resuscitation code. Hospital staff, including security, nurses, and other doctors, quickly converged on the scene to assist in the intensive resuscitation efforts, which included multiple defibrillations and medication. After a prolonged struggle, Shariqi's pulse was restored. She remained in critical condition for days, with her family fearing the worst. However, due to the intensive efforts of the medical team at Hadassah, Shariqi began to recover and showed remarkable improvement. Doctors described her survival and recovery without significant lasting damage as highly unusual, especially after prolonged resuscitation and requiring ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). Shariqi expressed profound gratitude for being given her life back by those who intervened.