By Roni Raffeld-Bluth
When my husband, Pitzi, was shot in the head and severely injured during a firefight with terrorists on the Lebanese border, an attack that claimed the lives of three other soldiers, he was initially treated by a military medical team and then transferred to a Magen David Adom Mobile Intensive Care Unit ambulance. He often describes that handover as a turning point in his survival. “When I saw them,” he tells people, “I knew I was in the right hands, the hands that save lives.”
MDA evacuated him to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, where he underwent life-saving surgery. A few days later, he was transferred to Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba for continued care and rehabilitation. It was there that, through the remarkable compassion and coordination of MDA, the ICU director, and the head of trauma, a seemingly impossible moment became reality: even with his devastating injuries, they enabled him to leave the ICU and attend the funeral of his soldier.
That day, being beside his soldiers as they buried their brother in arms, was not only an act of remembrance, it was an act of healing. This was more than a funeral; it was a duty of honor, and his ability to carry it out was made possible by people who went far above and beyond, driven by humanity, compassion, and faith in the power of connection. We will never forget the dedication and care shown by everyone involved.
Our story has, in a way, come full circle. Months later, as a reservist, I traveled with my own unit to the very area where Pitzi was injured to help dismantle the terror infrastructure from which the attack originated. Pitzi stood there with me, counting down to the explosion that would erase the place from which the terrorists had crossed into Israel. The same place where his life had almost ended. It was a moment that held pain and pride, closure and rebirth, and the deep understanding that we are here because others chose to act, to care, and to save.
As we continue our journey to healing, I have founded Alumot Krav to help others on a similar path. We provide a platform for the wives of injured soldiers who fight daily in quieter, unseen battles to share their experiences. Through stories of love, resilience, and hope, we illuminate the human strength that carries families through the aftermath of war. As someone who has dedicated her life to giving others a voice so that they can heal, I want to thank all of our American supporters for reading and sharing our story. Thank you for being by our side, and for supporting all that MDA continues to do – saving lives, restoring hope, and reminding us what humanity looks like at its best.
