Paratrooper Yonatan Levine

Doctors were already gently hinting to the parents of IDF paratrooper Yonatan Levine to give up, to consider agreeing to designate their eldest child, Yonatan, as an organ donor. His parents however would not hear of it, never losing faith, setting up a mini hospital at home, and seeing to all his needs despite the demands on their life and their funds.

Yonatan was not injured in the Gaza War, but was a casualty of the Second Lebanon War. A number of days ago, the family celebrated Yonatan’s 28th birthday.

On August 10, 2006, Yonatan, an officer in Sayeret Tzanchanim (reserves) was seriously wounded deep inside Lebanon. His leg was very seriously injured but that was the easy part. A piece of shrapnel penetrated his brain. He was listed in grave condition. He underwent no less than 15 operations on his head, and even more on his leg. After about three weeks in Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center, he was transferred to an intensive care unit of Tel Aviv’s Tel Hashomer Hospital. His condition did not improve and after one of the operations, he developed a systematic infection, prompting doctors to suggest the organ donor option.

Rachel, his mom, decided her life’s work was now the rehabilitation of her son, quitting her job to devote all her time to his care. His dad, Avishai, the head of the Ganei Tikvah municipality, agreed, devoting whatever spare time he had as well, as the two forged ahead –determined to do everything possible for their comatose son.

The two decided that Yonatan “will live” and he will do so in his home. The plans began to bring in a contractor to make the necessary changes to accommodate their child, to build a mini hospital.

Shortly before the construction got underway, Avishai suffered a stroke. “It was a nightmare” describes Rachel, who explained how the two, her husband and son, were lying side by side in the hospital. During the coming months, Avishai was rehabilitated and the construction work on the home moved ahead as planned, albeit delayed.

Space was made to accommodate a hospital bed, a therapy pool, air tanks and compressors, breathing apparatus and much more. “There are people in better shape than Yonatan who are in institutions, but we decided, ‘not our Yonatan’” explains Rachel.

After the construction was completed and the medical equipment in place, the ICU nurses from Tel Hashomer worked to assist the family and Yonatan arrived home. Rachel called it a victory, knowing her son had returned home, despite all the difficulties.

A few days ago, the family and close friends held a 28th birthday party at home, a most emotional event. Rachel explains he is not totally conscious or alert, communicates minimally by a hand movement, but he is home and there is hope. He is still considered in life-threatening danger she explains.

“You can never lose hope or give up” Rachel explains, and together with Avishai and their three other children, they forge ahead, continuing their prayers and efforts to bring Yonatan back to health.