56 years ago, what was almost a tragedy became a story of hope when four-year-old Michal Yahalomi Mishali drowned in the Ein Fescha Springs while on vacation with her family. Natan Kudinsky, a 20-year-old soldier at the time and an instructor in the IDF’s military medical program, began performing CPR on the young Yahalomi Mishali. A doctor who happened to be there quickly examined the child while Kudinsky was performing CPR and pronounced her dead. Kudinsky, who was one of Israel’s first paramedics, refused to give up, continuing CPR until Yahalomi Mishali regained consciousness.
“Every person is a whole world, and we have to fight for everyone,” reflected Kudinsky.
New Magen David Adom youth volunteers in Modi’in recently had the opportunity to hear Kudinsky and Yahalomi Mishali’s hopeful story at their graduation ceremony. Among the new volunteers is Maya, Kudinsky’s granddaughter.
“MDA’s youth volunteers have a great mission. I hope that my story will convey the message to never give up. Always believe that it’s worth trying,” Yahalomi Mishali said. “I’m proof that what the youth volunteers learn really saves lives.”
Since that fateful incident, both Kudinsky and Yahalomi Mishali have led rich and fulfilling lives. Kudinsky has served a distinguished career in MDA as the director of its training department for the past 36 years. Yahalomi Mishali fully recovered and became a teacher, a mother of three children, and a grandmother to four.
“The new youth volunteers have a living example before their eyes of not giving up. It’s important to me that they see that even if you don’t always succeed, you always have to try,” said Kudinsky. “I fought for Michal’s life, and she grew up to be an amazing mother and grandmother.”
