Aziz builds a field hospital while Nadine, in advanced pregnancy, fights Corona at the health fund • Two cares for children in Schneider and makes shifts at home with light, a doctor in the rescue unit serving at Ben Gurion Airport • The officers and nurses who fight in Corona against all odds

Lieutenant Colonel Aziz Ibrahim's biggest problem (36) is finding an arrangement for Anil, his three-and-a-half-year-old child, because both he and his wife, Nadine (27), are most essential in their work at this time. Nadine's biggest problem is the fact that she is in the week The 40's pregnant, and given that she is in their home in Sajour village in the north and he serves in the Sal'im, three and a half distances apart, the huge concern is that she will give birth while he is away. The Corona, surprisingly, is a minor problem despite Nadine's important role .

Intelligence Division has developed respirators for the health system // Photo: Ministry of Defense spokesmen

Both spouses serve as medical personnel, Nadine as a nurse in the dairy department at a unified Karmiel health fund, Aziz, trained as a paramedic and an intensive care brother, currently serving as chief of the Combat Medicine Division in Mali, Ze'elim. Previously, AG served as medical officer in the Northern Command and as Deputy Medical Officer In the Gaza division.

"The Corona story for us begins at home because we are both vital and the challenge is great because we both want to contribute our part," Aziz explains. "Nadine is a single mother in quotes, because I work far away, and one of the challenges is the fact that there are no families. So, unfortunately, we have to improvise and put it in the parents, despite the challenge."

"Everyone who meets me in the clinic and sees my stomach asks what I'm doing here," smiles Nadine. "I decided I wanted to continue working even though it is a very challenging time, because it is important to give our part in the fight against the Corona too. I want to contribute my part, whether as a nurse in general or in a drop of milk."

Meanwhile at home, the two try to explain to little Anil the situation. "He understands that there is a virus in the air and that he must be home. He understands, but there are moments when he really breaks down. When I and Aziz talk about the Corona or watch the news, he jumps up and says 'Enough, turn on the TV.' He is tired, like all of us," she says. Aziz laughs and says: "Ask him who closed the playground. He knows Bibi. It's cute."

Aziz's role is certainly challenging and can certainly affect the lives of many of us if a serious crisis occurs following the Corona virus, as occurred in Italy or New York. "I came to the post a month after the government decided on a closure, from the position of deputy medical officer of the Gaza Division, and I am currently working on creating an option for building a military hospital, which will also move into the civilian area in extreme cases. My role will be the hospital's nursing director." In addition, he says, "I have officers and paramedics scattered around MDA and other places, and I also led a mission of 100 people to help seniors in Kiryat Gat."

In an attempt to help Aziz come home every Tuesday, he admits that it is not exactly noon. While away from home, he, like many Israeli residents these days, uses technology to stay in touch. "There's the zoom and we stay in touch as much as possible. It's not a simple event, but when you see everyone's troubles around you realize it's not easy for anyone and your trouble is minimal. Nadine is always at the forefront and not just the Corona era. Because if she wasn't like that, I wouldn't have survived a millimeter in my work. Now it has doubled in size and I hold her fingers and try to support her as far as possible mentally. At the end of the week, when I arrive, I try to help as much as possible with games with the child and teenage lessons. "Despite his young age, he needs it. And, of course, support for home jobs."

"The big concern right now is that I'm pregnant, both because of the corona and because I currently have no help from the extended family, as is usually the case. There is now more chance of corona exposure in the hospital and that could endanger me and the fetus. Assad who gives birth to her when she is being euthanized. I work at the front and that is definitely alarming, but we work collaboratively. I hope he can reach my birth. Even after the birth, it will be challenging because people should not be exposed to me and not have to be home for a long time. One of the extended family won't help clean the house and help after the birth. That's why I'm in no hurry, I don't have to give birth now. You can also wait a few weeks, "she laughs ironically.

A. In the Haruv Patrol, Chen in the Corona Department in Kaplan

"We knew sorting queues," says Lieutenant A, Harob Patrol's doctor, how he met his partner, Chen Charushu, a staging physician at the Kaplan Hospital Corona ward on the streets. He was at the beginning of his medical career, after studying right now, at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, and needed the advice of an orthopedist. "I came in and she was there. That's how we knew it." For the past two years, they have been living together in Tel Aviv, and the word engagement is already on the table, but it is hard to say in the last month that they will see you.

For the past year and a half, A has been serving in the cruiser, working with her in the toughest decrees of the State of Israel, from Gaza to Etzion. In fact, we made the call together just hours after being called in with the intensive care unit for a terror attack near Ma'ale Adumim a week ago. "It was after a long night's activity. We got the message and jumped there. We arrived and determined the death of the terrorist," he shares.

"The challenge is significant," A presents the work from the IDF operational angle in the Corona era. "The unit has now been almost four months. We ended a longing line three weeks ago. We are now in Benjamin's Spatial Division, with significant activity that is impossible to talk about. Suddenly all the shielding and activities are different, and especially in its Arab population we sometimes give medical attention. "

"But the most significant challenge right now is that my partner is at the forefront, in the hospitals, perhaps in the most dangerous place. We hardly see because we are both doctors and every precious meeting. We were last seen a few weeks ago, when I was in the ordinary, and then the IDF went into quarantine. At the same time, I came to check on a soldier from another unit who was sick in Corona, so I went into isolation. Even when I come home most of the time Chen is away. "Chen adds:" When he came home, I was on a night shift. "

"I don't think I'm on the front line more than A. The relationship with a military doctor is challenging," she sharpened. "We really miss each other. We are used to being close and today is very difficult. I am used to talking to A. once every few hours and suddenly now talk once in a million years. All this routine of a doctor and madman. I am super proud of him for the role, it is not obvious To be a combat physician and to dedicate time to such a position. "

Adrenaline addicts

The three children of the Miller family in Rosh HaAyin were born into a home where emergencies are almost normal, and the video calls they conducted with Orr (41), the father of the family, well before the Corona crisis. However, they also do not remember a situation where two (38), the mama, works so much and is at the forefront of the Corona fight. "I went through the emergency room wars, fires and other emergencies, but nothing was even close to this situation. There is no more first line than that." , Admits a second, who serves as an academic nurse in the emergency medicine department at the Schneider Pediatric Center in Petah Tikva.

For the past five years, Captain (res.) Or Miller, a physician specializing in the urological department at Meir Medical Center in his civilian role, has also served as a physician in the National Home Front Rescue Unit. "We are routinely dealing with natural disasters and humanitarian aid to countries that need it in the world. I have not participated so far in overseas expeditions, but I have been engaged in sending troops and equipment to Albania, Brazil and Mexico, which includes the entire medical aspect, making relevant vaccines and organizing medical equipment. In addition, I actively participated in the rescue attempts at the parking lot collapse event at the soldier's level in 2016. "Last week, a light jump with his teammates for the crane collapse unit in Rishon Lezion, but fortunately they did not need their work there.

"There is no doubt that it is not easy to be married to a doctor in the rescue unit, and I have to make sure that he can fly any minute," Shani shares. "There is such a feeling in the house that at any given moment the phone can ring and light will disappear for days or weeks, depending on the type of event. On the other hand, my work is also very challenging and not easy. We are probably both addicted to adrenaline," she laughs.

With the outbreak of the Corona crisis, Light and Second realized that this was another event, and that the two would have to bear the burden and raise their three children - Zoe (5), Yuval (3.5) and Rumi (1.5), while dealing with the emergency. The national rescue unit has been stationed at Ben Gurion Airport in recent weeks, treating the few passengers arriving in Israel, some from infected countries such as France, Spain, Italy and the United States. The Schneider Emergency Medicine Department is simultaneously treating children exposed to Corona patients and at the same time a standard emergency that comes to the emergency room on a regular basis.

"We synchronize maximally, a real overlap," Shani describes the situation. "I leave the house and he comes in. It's not a simple time and the emergencies continue as usual. It's a national task period, and I can't afford not to come. Sometimes I steal a few more minutes at home just to see the light."

"No day and no night"

While the officers are mentally supportive from afar, the women are at the front, fighting Corona with full force. "We work for 12 hours and then 24 hours. There are no weekends, no day and night, no Saturdays or holidays. Nothing. Even when you go out you are afraid to see people and catch up with them. It is not pleasant to go to public places, ”Chen says of her long hours as a physician in the Kaplan Hospital Corona Department.

"It's very difficult for me to have a personal face - I don't see the patient," she shares. "We are dressed in a lot of equipment and don't see the patient or how to talk to him. That's the part I love about medicine, understanding how they feel, and it's just as important as the medical treatment itself. Also, taking blood and any other procedure is very limited. We have the option of talking to patients on camera but "There are patients who have trouble with technology. It is very difficult for them and it pains me that they are alone, that there is no one to hug them. There is a sense of mission, but when you are in the system it is difficult to see and feel it. You work by virtue of inertia."

Even when you leave the department, the fear accompanies you further. "Obviously I worry about being as protected as possible in the department, but there is always a fear that I will infect people. It is far more frightening for me to infect others than to infect myself. Even with full protection, the chance of being tested very low is something that goes with you - going to the park, to the supermarket. ".

Nadine looks at the issue on both sides of the barricade - that of the nurse caring for people who may be coronary patients, and as a pregnant woman who is expected to give birth soon. "We work in an emergency department and receive patients and patients who are not aware of their health status. Our Carmiel clinic has also had patients in recent times, although fortunately I myself was not exposed. This is a challenging time but it is important for us to play our part in the fight against the corona," she says of Her work.

"As a pregnant woman, it is certainly worrying," Nadine introduces the other side of the equation. "There is a cloud hovering above my head, but I read articles on the subject and realize it will be fine." Aziz also provides mental support and declares that "I will come to birth no matter where I am. I will come with masks and gloves and help her."

Nadine: "We know that all departments are prepared and ready but birth will be different - there won't be many visitors and we will have to learn how to do things. Each of us continues to fight, each in his own war, whether in the military, work or in the personal field. That's what leads us and gives us Win".

The children wake up before the sun

Orr, who was used to working long hours as a specialist in a hospital, found himself in two positions. Although the couple makes it clear that he also helps a lot at home every day, but this is a much more intense job. After many working hours at Ben Gurion Airport, he comes home and helps raise the children to allow his wife to fight Corona in her field of expertise. "We work in an emergency format and are therefore divided into two teams. There are no games with shifts or replacements. Therefore, every shift in the hospital is also accompanied by the distribution of the shifts at home - who is with the children at a given time, "says Shani." We divide the work in half. 12 hours with the kids, 12 hours at work. "

What does a day at home in the Corona era look like, light?

"The children are aromatisers, waking up before the sun, along with the birds. Then breakfast and activities. As the day goes on we start to get more and more creative - sessions, games, creativity."

And what does the burden of equality look like? Who makes a cornflakes breakfast with milk and cookies and who invests in a healthier breakfast?

"Light is a chef, he is a great cook," boasts two. "He invests heavily in quality meals. In general, as medical staff, we try to downplay sweets at home."

The role of two is especially challenging these days. Because this is a pediatric hospital, she has to in some way contact the tiny patient while wearing all the protection required by the corona epidemic. "The difficulty in treating the suspects in Corona is not simple, and with children it is far more significant. Initial contact masks and protections scare the young children and although we specialize in treating them is not a simple challenge." Shani says that one of the creative solutions is a project called "Meir Faces" in which stickers are provided with medical staff stickers with their pictures, so that the patient can connect with the therapist despite the heavy shielding. "I would not replace my workplace anywhere else. I love the role and the charming and dedicated staff."

Light also protects heavily before he goes to work at the Ben Gurion Reserve. "Not only did the National Rescue Unit choose to handle passengers coming from overseas, because this is a particularly sensitive point. They are often older people, and have no idea what's going to happen to them. "Some of them do get a message that they will have to get to the hotel, but they don't know what process they are going to go through. The first face they see, except for MDA examiners and the Airports Authority, is the face of our soldiers."

The children do not miss you, they see you much less than usual.

"They live like this from scratch," Shani smiles. "They see Dad wearing the uniform and know he is on duty. They see that sometimes he does not return to work and 'sleeps there' as we set it, so he will say good night on the phone. For them, this is not an emergency at all, even though they are now Seeing Dad more. "

You both work with corona blue suspects. Not scary to get infected?

"Scary? There is always concern, but we work well and keep the rules," says Shani. "In addition to the protective measures, we regularly perform corona tests, so this reduces the fear that every few days we know what our condition is."

"The truth is, I was in isolation at the beginning of the crisis," Orr says. "As part of the internship, we have a few weeks of continuing studies at Tel Aviv University and one of those meetings turned out to be a trainee who turned out to be a verified patient. So I spent some time in isolation. It was mostly climbing the walls and being on Netflix. There is always concern, and now we are on the first line of fire Return to Earth, and you may not know who is in front of you. Maybe he is just a Corona patient and he may be actually ill. There is always the fear that you may become infected. "

And what happens if you or two get infected?

"If any of us are infected, it will be very challenging," Orr says, adding: "We are optimistic people. You have to be such in our role, not to think deeply about situations that could occur."