One Wednesday morning, a family’s world had been shattered. 

Early in the morning, two young parents living in Jerusalem woke to find their young child unresponsive in his crib. Panicked, they called United Hatzalah, and within moments, their small apartment was filled with medics and doctors trying desperately to save their toddler. 

CPR efforts were relentless, with team members continuously cycling through rigorous rounds of CPR, alternating medics to maintain optimal effectiveness. Tragically, it was determined that the baby had succumbed to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 

Amid the chaos and unimaginable grief, Ariel Drey, a member of United Hatzalah’s Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit, arrived on the scene. He gently supported the devastated parents, helping them begin to process their loss in those agonizing first moments. 

Exactly one week later, as the family was rising from shiva (seven day mourning period), the mother began to feel intense contractions. At 38 weeks pregnant, her labor had started. 

United Hatzalah was once again called to their address. EMT Shoshana Primak was at home when she received the alert and noticed the familiar location. At first, she thought it could be anyone, but when she received the family’s last name, her heart sank. She realized it was the same family that had endured such a tragic loss just days earlier. 

Determined to approach the situation with the utmost care, Shoshana arrived quickly and monitored the mother, keeping her calm through the consistent contractions. She also contacted the incoming ambulance crew, ensuring that they were aware of the family’s recent trauma and could respond with sensitivity. 

When the ambulance arrived, the crew handled the situation with compassion and understanding. Together they transported the mother to the hospital, where she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

“It was a mixture of sadness and joy,” recalled Primak. “It was a very tough time for the parents, because who can concentrate and think of an upcoming birth when dealing with such a big tragedy… I was privileged to be by her side and to help usher in her new baby boy.”