Hospital Director's Son, Critically Wounded in Gaza, Shares Recovery Journey

Professor Anat Engel, director of Wolfson Medical Center, shared her personal experience as the mother of a soldier critically wounded in the Gaza conflict at a conference marking 30 years of national health insurance. Her son, Yoav, a 22-year-old tank crew member, was severely injured on December 8, 2023, during fighting in Shuja'iyya, Gaza, when a roadside bomb exploded on his tank. He lost his left leg and spent two months in intensive care at Sheba Medical Center.

Yoav recounted the immense difficulty of recovering from such a severe injury, describing the challenges of regaining basic mobility and learning to walk again with a prosthesis. He found solace in the support of his family, friends, and the medical staff, as well as in listening to books read to him while he was sedated. Professor Engel explained that they read to him knowing that even unconscious patients can absorb external stimuli, citing research on the subject.

Both Yoav and Professor Engel emphasized the importance of compassion and empathy from medical teams, especially for patients and families experiencing life-altering events. Professor Engel highlighted small gestures of kindness from the staff that provided comfort during her son's hospitalization. Yoav also spoke about a mentorship program where he connected with an older veteran who lost a leg in a previous conflict, finding hope in seeing a potential future for himself.

Despite his injuries, Yoav has decided to pursue a medical career, enrolling in Tel Aviv University's medical school, seeing it as a way to complete a circle and contribute to saving lives, inspired by those who saved him. The article also features Dr. Yoav Bichovsky, a senior ICU doctor at Soroka Medical Center who was also severely wounded in Gaza. He described his gradual return to medical practice, initially requiring supervision for complex procedures, and his ongoing rehabilitation. Both Yoav Engel and Dr. Bichovsky reflected on how their experiences as patients have deepened their understanding and empathy for those they treat.