Welcoming New Life in Israel

At around 03:00 in the morning my United Hatzalah radio went off.

A woman in labor. Someone needed help.

I have two United Hatzalah friends in Carmei Gat. Whenever a call like this comes in, we always check in with each other to see who can respond.

I first called Shira Silverman. No answer.

Then Hila Rinkoff. Thankfully she picked up and said she was on her way.

I told myself the call was covered.

However, soon I began wondering. What happened. Did they take the mother to the hospital? Was everything under control?

That’s when I called Shira again and this time she answered. She was also on her way to the emergency.  

Shortly after, I passed by Hila’s car, parked outside the apartment building from the emergency call. I called her. She didn’t answer but texted me back with only two words.

“Come up.”

That was all I needed.

I ran.

The mother was deep into labor, but it was not progressing smoothly. I assisted my friends with clarity and focus.

As a newly graduated doctor, my recent practical training was about to become very real and very useful.

We encouraged the mother. We monitored the situation. But most importantly we stayed calm.

Using some of the maneuvers I recently learned in medical school helped get things moving. And about twenty minutes later, at around 04:00 in the morning, a baby girl was born.

There is something miraculous about a baby’s first cry in the quiet hours before dawn. With baby in hand, the mother breathed a sigh of relief. The father was overwhelmed and overjoyed with emotion after all that just transpired.

We prepared both mother and baby to go to the hospital so they can start their lives as a family.

As the urgency dissipated, and the urgency turned to joy, I felt the weight of my day.  A day that began on the northern front, serving in uniform and protecting Israel from those who wish to harm us, ended with helping bring a new child into the world.

On the eve of Father’s Day, I couldn’t help by feel happy with the knowledge that I helped give another man the gift of fatherhood.