A young, pregnant Ultra-Orthodox Jewish mother was admitted to Laniado Hospital towards the end of her seventh pregnancy suffering with COVID 19 during the third COVID 19 wave. She was extremely short of breath and shortly after admission she underwent an emergency caesarean section due to the worsening of her respiratory status.

A healthy baby boy was born but after the cesarean section she was transferred straight to the ICU, as she was so ill that she required mechanical ventilation. Her lungs were so badly affected by the virus and she had very low oxygen concentrations in her blood.

Treating severely ill patients, especially when ventilated and lying on the stomach is extremely difficult, requiring a very high degree of professional knowledge and care.

By the third wave the protein behaviour of the corona virus was well known but instead of developing clots in her blood vessels, the young mother had a massive bleed into the muscles of her back. After receiving blood products and medication to increase clotting, she required a tracheostomy.

She responded well to the intensive treatment and began to make good progress.

The department staff were present on the day of the baby's brit milah. Everyone was overwhelmed with emotion as the young mother (still connected to the ventilator) watched the ceremony on zoom.

“I don't think that any of us present will ever forget that day.” Lydia Laxner, Head Nurse ICU

Eventually, she was weaned off the ventilator and the tracheostomy tube was removed.

A year later, the staff and I had a very emotional reunion when she visited Laniado with her husband and now one year old son. Baruch Hashem both our patient and her baby son were the picture of health!

This is an example of the thousands of stories from severely ill patients that have been treated in our intensive care unit at Laniado Hospital over the last 19 years.

With the help of Hashem may our wonderful staff continue to provide the highest level of care to our most complex patients, treating each and every one of our patients as if they are a close family member, helping them and their families negotiate these most dangerous and trying times, safely.