A Miracle
Shulamit Merom, the wife of Dr. Dan Merom, an Obstetrician in our Mother and Baby Center, came to deliver her fourth baby
on the morning of Shavuot.
What should have been "an ordinary normal birth" quickly turned into a nightmare. Shulamit developed an Amniotic Fluid
Embolism which occurs when some of the amniotic fluid goes into the blood stream causing major bleeding and complications
of the clotting process. In 90% of the cases it is fatal. The chances of its happening is 1-1,000,000 In situations such
as these response must be immediate and fast. Dr. Lachman, the attending doctor, responded in kind, by performing a
caesarian in the delivery room, delivering a healthy baby boy weighing 3.200kg. A surgical procedure such as this is a
first in Laniado (and possibly in other hospitals as well) as this is always performed in the Operating Room. This saved
the baby's life.
Shulamit was immediately brought into the operating room. The bleeding could not be stopped. The only possible solution was
to have her receive fresh O+ blood directly . Dr. Yaakov Mamet, the department head, who by this time had received an
emergency call up, and was already in the OR, made the quick and decisive decision of transfusing fresh blood. Dr. Mamet
was the first to donate blood. Following his lead the medical and nursing staff donated blood. Jew and Arab alike. Despite
receiving 10 pints of blood in this manner, the profuse bleeding continued. More blood was needed.
The various department heads who could help arrived. Amongst them Dr. Joseph Glick, head of the laboratories, Dr. Shlomo
Bulvik, head of Hematology and Dr. Ron Lior, head of Cardiology. Dr. Haj arrived from the Emergency Room for resuscitation.
Heroic efforts were made to save her life.
The Admor of Sanz shlita made a ruling that the tefillot in the Great Hall of the Sanz Synagogue be immediately halted and
Gershon Lieder, CEO of the hospital made the dramatic announcement asking anyone and everyone who had O+ blood type to
immediately run to the delivery rooms in Laniado and donate fresh blood. Tens of Sanz Hassidim ran into the delivery room
waiting area waiting to be called in to donate blood. This drama went on for hours. Finally, miraculously after receiving 20
portions of blood the bleeding was contained.
Shulamit, in a state of unconsciousness, was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit of our Cardiology Department. Her
situation was critical. It was unclear whether she was brain damaged or not.
On Thursday (6 days after she gave birth) she returned to the Maternity ward of Laniado where she is making progress.
Laniado Hospital Opens Cardiac Catheterization Unit
The local and national health services were pleased to receive the good news
of Laniado Hospital’s opening of the new state-of-the-art Cardiac Catheterization
Unit. This is another step forward in Laniado Hospital’s rapid development for the
welfare of the local citizens.
Mr. Gershon Lieder, the hospital’s director, said that the Heart Institute, under the
direction of Dr. Ron Lior is one of the best in the area and works in close association
with the Cardiology Department of Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer. The Institute is usually
packed with heart patients who are cared for by a specially trained staff 24 hours a day.
Now the department has had the fortune of opening the Catheterization Unit which is headed
by Dr. Brandeis, a prominent Cardiologist in the field and one of the senior doctors of the
Rabin Medical Center. He will supervise closely the function of the new unit, together with
Dr. Ron Lior.
The Unit was honored with a special ceremony in which the Grand Rabbi of Sanz affixed a
mezuzah to the door of the unit.
The Unit was built at unbelievable speed with the help of generous, devoted benefactors both
locally and internationally.
The equipment for the Catheterization Unit was purchased through the generous help of the
local population who took part in a special campaign on the Shabbat of Parshat Mishpatim.
The unit has become very active on a daily basis. Each month about 80
residents of the Netanya area require cardiac catheterization. Till now they
required traveling to distant medical centers, but now with the operation of
the new unit, they will no longer need to be transferred and the procedure
can be performed in Laniado.
For more stories please click here
|