A Mother’s Story: Safe Birth in Uncertain Times

Michael and Shirah David made Aliyah from Seattle in 2024, beginning a new chapter of their lives in Israel. Recently, they welcomed their daughter, Liora, at Laniado Hospital in Netanya, their second child born in Israel since making Aliyah.

Liora was born just before the start of Operation Roaring Lion, the current operation being undertaken by the US and Isreal. Shirah gave birth on the Saturday (Shabbat) the war began in Laniado’s newly completed Sheltered Maternity Unit, a facility specifically designed to protect mothers and newborn babies even during missile attacks.

“Knowing that I could recover and rest after giving birth in a protected room was an enormous relief,” Shirah said. “There were several sirens that day, but I was able to remain safely in my room. I didn’t have to gather my baby and rush anywhere. I knew we were safe.”

Hospital staff reassured her that if the sirens continued, she could remain in the protected unit for as long as necessary before returning home. That reassurance brought enormous peace of mind.

At the same time, Michael was able to stay at home caring for their older child, confident that his wife and newborn daughter were fully protected inside the fortified unit.

Knowing that I could recover and rest after giving birth in a protected room was an enormous relief.

Until recently, that level of safety simply did not exist. Before the sheltered maternity unit opened its doors, mothers who had just given birth sometimes had only minutes to move themselves and their newborn babies to protected areas during rocket alerts. For women recovering from labour, that situation was both physically and emotionally overwhelming.

Laniado’s new fortified maternity unit has changed that reality entirely. Mothers and babies no longer need to be moved during sirens. They can remain safely in their rooms, allowing recovery, bonding, and rest to continue uninterrupted — even in times of conflict.

“We are so grateful to the donors who made this unit possible,” Shirah said. “Thanks to them, I was able to give birth and recover in safety. Especially with everything happening now, that protection means more than words can express.”

In challenging times, this sheltered maternity unit stands as a powerful reminder that even during uncertainty, new life can begin in safety thanks to the vision and generosity of those who made it possible.