Actor Eran Ben Ze'ev Battles Life-Threatening Tick-Borne Illness and Amputation

Eran Ben Ze'ev, known as Avrom from the Israeli children's series "Kofiko," faced a life-altering medical crisis after a tick bite led to a rare and severe illness called Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Initially mistaking his symptoms for the flu, Ben Ze'ev's condition rapidly deteriorated, resulting in organ failure, a three-and-a-half-week coma, 11 surgeries, and ultimately the amputation of his left leg. Doctors gave him little chance of survival, with one telling his family to pray as he fought for his life.

Ben Ze'ev recounted how his wife and daughters supported him throughout his 15-month hospitalization, during which he communicated with nearly 300 friends and family members via a WhatsApp group. Despite the devastating news about his leg, encouragement from a renowned plastic surgeon who also uses a prosthesis helped him regain hope. He emphasized the role of humor, family, and community in his recovery and adaptation to a new lifestyle, including learning to drive a motorized wheelchair.

Born into a family of artists, Ben Ze'ev has had a prolific acting career in theater, film, and television, with notable roles in "Kofiko" and other Israeli productions. He has transformed his personal ordeal into a theatrical lecture called "Tick with a Wink," which he has performed over 100 times, including in the United States. Through this, he aims to inspire others to find strength and positivity in adversity, urging people to "make lemonade into limoncello."