HADASSAH NEWS FROM HADASSAH MEDICAL ORGANIZATION WINTER 2019

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A Double Stroke at the Dead Sea (MDA) ambulance team called for a after his catheterization. “Had the teams not helicopter, and Avi was rushed to Hadassah worked quickly—less than an hour from the Hospital Ein Kerem. MDA also contacted stroke to the angiography room--the patient Hadassah's Endovascular Neurosurgery Unit, was likely to die. The patient's rapid recovery headed by Prof. Jose Cohen. from a life-threatening situation is due not least to the high skill level of Prof. Cohen and his The moment the helicopter landed, staff. The speed allowed them to provide Hadassah’s stroke protocol was activated. optimal treatment.” Prof Cohen, together with Dr. Zvika Skagio, performed a cerebral catheterization. "In this And the patient himself? “I remember trying to patient, we found ourselves facing severe talk to my wife in a souvenir shop. First, the blockages in both the left cerebral artery and Zaka volunteer rescue team came and then left carotid artery,” report the doctors. “At the Magen David Adom. Then I woke up at Imagine having a double stroke in two least,” they explain, “these blockages were Hadassah after my life was saved." Avi’s wife, different arteries while on a day trip at the liable to lead to severe disability and serious Inge, who drove to Jerusalem, said, "I arrived Dead Sea! What could be the chances of damage to his quality of life. He could also when he was already in the operating room survival? die. Happily, our patient recovered quickly and waited frantically. I'm really surprised that and the next day, he was walking and talking he's already home and okay, because I know Last week, Avi, age 57, was on a day trip at clearly. After a few days of hospitalization, he what would have happened if he hadn’t the Dead Sea. He turned to his wife, and was able to be sent home in good condition.” received such excellent care. It was suddenly he couldn’t speak. His face twitched traumatic, but we are slowly recovering and and he collapsed. Prof. Ronen Leker, director of Hadassah’s want to thank everyone who saved his life. It Stroke Service and Cerebrovascular Disease was a miracle.” Alert medics of the Magen David Adom Research Laboratory, received the patient

Hadassah Surgeon Uses Revolutionary Surgery and Stem Cells to Restore Mobility

He grew up on the Mediterranean coast in improving should there be a medical After the external fixator was placed, Dr. Ashkelon, but Eyal Turgeman dreamed of breakthrough. In 2014, he gave in to the pain Goldman extracted stem cells from the pelvis becoming an African wilderness tour guide. and scheduled the surgery that would bone marrow and injected them into After serving in the Israel Defense Forces’ elite immobilize his ankle. Turgeman’s ankle. “This reduces pain in the paratroopers unit, he arrived in Namibia, a joint and preserves motion,” explained Dr. southwestern African country marked by rocky Then he got lucky. At a party he met a young Goldman. trails, sunshine, and sandy open spaces. man with a similar problem. He told Turgeman about a doctor using new technology from Turgeman was the youngest Israeli to undergo Then his plans came to a crashing halt. On a the United States. “It was as if a lightning bolt this procedure. “I told Dr. Goldman that when hike Turgeman slipped, tumbling 16 feet and hit me,” Turgeman recalled. “I knew I had to I can walk again, I’m going to take him on a severely injuring his ankle. He was 500 miles meet this doctor. I cancelled my scheduled hike. Seven months after the surgery, 14 years from the closest hospital and more than 60 surgery and called to make an appointment after giving up hiking, Dr. Goldman and I miles from the nearest highway. At the last with Dr. Vladimir Goldman.” actually went camping and hiking in the minute, he’d packed a satellite phone. Earlier desert.” on that trip he’d met a local pilot. As he lay His call to Dr. Goldman at Hadassah Hospital there, injured and alone, Turgeman Ein Kerem took place that same evening. It's been four years and Turgeman is still pain- remembered the pilot’s number and mustered There was a cancellation and the doctor had free. “Dr. Goldman gave me my life back,” all his strength to reach his phone. The pilot an appointment the next day. “I knew this was said Turgeman. “I am forever in his debt and rescued Turgeman and brought him to a sign," said Turgeman. forever grateful to Hadassah.” Windhoek Central Hospital. There, the orthopedist pieced his leg together and gave Dr. Goldman explained that there was a way Turgeman some advice. “Forget your dream,” to get Turgeman back on his feet and he said, “and buy a cane because your leg eliminate his pain. Using stem cells, Dr. will never fully heal.” Goldman could perform what's called ankle distraction arthroplasty. First, Dr. Goldman For 14 years Turgeman hobbled around Israel. would place an external fixator on Turgeman’s He became a real estate developer, met his ankle. External pins would stabilize the bones wife, Rachel, and settled down to raise their in the proper position but also enable four kids. Turgeman was in constant pain, but Turgeman to turn the screws and stretch the his only option was an irreversible procedure ankle area. Then, the stem cells would that would destroy any hope of his ankle regenerate the damaged tissue. Newborn with Life-Threatening Genetic Disease Successfully Treated by Hadassah Screening for methyl malonic aciduria is done CRRT. His ammonia levels plummeted to before a newborn is released from the normal. hospital, but it’s unusual for the disease to threaten brain function and to be life- “We overcame the crisis,” said Dr. Shaul-Lotan. threatening so soon after birth. Within hours “Now we must work with the family to care for Baby B’s ammonia levels soared to 1100! this child. Methyl malonic aciduria is a chronic “Without extreme intervention, this baby had illness. Baby B is alive because Hadassah no chance of survival,” said Dr. Nava Shaul- doctors worked across disciplines and at all Lotan, Pediatric Medical Geneticist at hours to save him. The multi-disciplinary team Hadassah. Prof. Bar-Oz and Dr. Shaul-Lotan included specialists in neonatology, pediatric consulted with Dr. Oded Volovelsky, Pediatric intensive care, and metabolic diseases.” Nephrologist at Hadassah, who ruled out dialysis as too risky. Dr. Volovelsky “The Hadassah doctors worked tirelessly to Hours before newborn Baby B was supposed recommended Baby B undergo continuous help our baby,” said grandma Bracha, who to be released from Hadassah Hospital Mount renal replacement therapy (CRRT), a was taking a turn with the baby. “In our family, Scopus, he was very pale and his breathing treatment that filters the blood gradually over my husband’s parents were first cousins, but seemed off. “When the resident woke me, I an extended amount of time. In 2013, Dr. this is the first problem we’ve had among knew this was a matter of life and death,” said Volovelsky was a pediatric nephrology fellow hundreds of offspring. Baby B has an older Prof. Benjamin Bar-Oz, Director of at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical sister who is perfectly healthy. We never Neonatology at Hadassah. Baby B’s ammonia Center and learned about CRRT. Dr. expected such a dangerous genetic disease. level was at 680. The normal level for a Volovelsky had Hadassah send Dr. Assaf “We appreciate the brilliance of the newborn is 40. Mendel, Pediatric Intensive Care Specialist, to Hadassah personnel who were equipped to Cincinnati to learn how to administer CRRT. cope with this. They also give their whole The little baby was born with methyl malonic heart. Their devotion goes way beyond their aciduria, a rare genetic metabolic disease Baby B was transferred to Hadassah Hospital job obligations. We are very grateful to that affects 1 out of 50,000 to 100,000 people. Ein Kerem, where he underwent 25 hours of Hadassah.”

Saving Lives, Changing Lives at Hadassah-Neurim Youth Aliyah Village Henrietta Szold was the mother of Youth Sergei Schiller, 18, didn’t like to be told what to Russian-speaking teens at the village. Then I Aliyah. The first young Jews who came on their do, even when he was a kid. He and his sister made an effort to make friends with kids who own in the mid-1930s were fleeing Hitler. Many were often seen wandering through the city of didn’t speak Russian, so I had to learn never saw their parents again, and they Poltava, Ukraine. His father was frequently Hebrew.” called her Ima. She met their boats, abroad, where he drove trucks across Europe. welcomed them, and became their staunch He argued with his mother. He skipped school The minute he heard about the surfing advocate in the no-frills pre-state Israel. to go hiking. program on the glorious Mediterranean coast on which Hadassah-Neurim is located, he He still has the smile that won the heart of the The only area where he excelled was wanted to join the surfing club. “A lot of kids Hadassah-Neurim village director when he first swimming, and he was a champion in wanted to sign up, but I knew from my saw Louis. His real name is Tekleweyn. No one butterfly and free style. But that wasn’t swimming that it takes persistence. could pronounce it, so his teacher offered him enough for him. Though he was a popular either Moshe or Louis. He chose the latter and rascal, inside he was deeply disappointed in “Through the surfing I became an Israeli. More it stuck. himself. than that. The freedom I was looking for in the wild life I led in the Ukraine was misplaced. I Back then he was a skinny refugee from “I would organize parties where we would rent found freedom out on the waves.” Eritrea, who tried to convince Israeli officials a dacha and all get drunk,” he said. “I liked to Not only is he a champion surfer, but he also that he was 18 and old enough to work and be the center of attention.” teaches younger children to surf. He scored send money to his family. They weren't fooled. 100 in math, too, and will be finishing 12th He was 14. Avoiding conscription as a boy At the monthly meetings of Jewish youth grade with a full matriculation certificate, the soldier and not knowing where he would wind organized by the Jewish Agency in Poltava, key to higher education. But before going to up, he had run away on a treacherous journey he heard about the program Na’aleh, where college, he wants to serve in the IDF, and not from Eritrea. teens could come by themselves to Israel. “I just any unit. He’s aiming for the Sea thought that it might be a chance to change Commandos, Israel’s Navy Seals. Now he’s 21, tall and slim but fit looking. He still my life,” said Schiller. lives at Hadassah-Neurim, which accepted him and 11 other Eritrean refugees as students His grades were so poor that his first- after they crossed illegally from Sinai into Israel choice youth village rejected him. “I didn’t and were apprehended by the IDF. He’s a know any math,” he said. But at Hadassah- champion runner, practicing three to five Neurim, the new village director, Ami Magen, hours a day. His latest first-place finish was at decided to give him a chance. “I learned the popular International Tiberias Marathon, Hebrew from aleph bet,” Schiller said. “At first, where he won the 21-kilometer run. that went slowly because I hung out with

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