In association with Rafael Hospital
"When I went out that morning, almost ten months ago for a bike ride, I never imagined that in a few hours my life would be in real danger. Luckily, a quick diagnosis by the doctor and surgery at Rafael Hospital literally saved my life," says Gilad, a 49-year-old high-tech worker, healthy and active in sports. "As a sports and cycling enthusiast, I've experienced injuries in the past that required medical intervention, but that morning was the scariest of all."
That fateful morning, Gilad went for a ride in the Ben Shemen forest in tailored clothing with full protection, including a head helmet. During the ride, he slipped with his bicycle and suffered a head injury that created a sharp and uncontrolled movement of the neck. As he tried to recover from the fall, it was clear to him that something had gone wrong with his body. He lost sensation in his upper and lower extremities and actually lay on the ground paralyzed.
"Within minutes, the guys riding with me gathered around me and I muttered to them, 'Take out my cell phone and call Dr. Eyal Barbalak, quickly.' It was 7:45 a.m. and luckily he answered the phone while he was at work. I told him briefly what had happened to me and he asked us to call an ambulance. Another instruction he gave me was that from that moment on, I would not put anything in my mouth – neither food nor drink, whatever trouble there was. He was probably already worried that I might have to undergo some procedure under general anesthesia.
Almost an hour and a half passed before the long-awaited evacuation, during which there was a slight improvement – the sensation returned slightly to my limbs, but I still couldn't move."
The window of opportunity that saved my life
Gilad says that Dr. Barbalak, a specialist in orthopedic surgery, back and spine surgery, met when they were in middle school, but over the years their relationship was not close. Gilad monitored his professional progress from afar and appreciated him very much. This was also why he felt safe approaching him and trusted his professional judgment.
After performing an imaging at the hospital that went to him to the emergency room, the diagnosis received was of degenerative pressure on the spinal cord in the area of vertebra C5-6 that Gilad was not aware of, so that in a split second the pressure on the cord increased, creating complete paralysis of the limbs. In such a situation, the recommendation is to quickly perform surgery to reduce pressure from the spine in order to reduce pressure and allow an optimal chance of neurological recovery. Gilad was recommended neck surgery in an anterior approach by removing the intervertebral disc in the stressed area, reducing the pressure from the spinal cord, and after lowering this pressure, insertion of an implant in place of the disc that is evident.
Dr. Barbalak explained to me that it is advisable within a window of about 12 hours after the injury, in order to allow an optimal chance of rehabilitation and reduce the chance of irreversible damage to the spinal cord. It was also explained to me that the operation was complex and that the surgery itself had risks, including infections, damage to blood vessels or, God forbid, death. I lay helpless on the bed, understanding how serious the situation was, but I trusted him. I gave my consent to have the surgery.
"A few hours passed from the moment I fell until I entered the operating room at Rafael Hospital, a time that seemed like an eternity, but in retrospect I know that in terms of waiting for medical procedures it is a short time. The operation lasted about three hours and was very successful. The next day they tried to help me get back on my feet."
Dr. Barbalak, who accompanied Gilad and operated on him, says that he had the privilege of helping Gilad at the most difficult moment of crisis in his life.
Gilad Weiss at Rafael Hospital (private photo),
"I am glad that I was able to give of my experience and ability to change the evil of the decree and allow him to return to his family and routine while he is on his feet. Gilad and his wife's ability to make difficult decisions quickly, the decision to go for surgery, led to early surgery and the amazing neurological improvement he experienced. I would like to thank all the staff members who helped me at Rafael Hospital to get the patient into surgery as soon as possible and for enlisting and enabling surgery in minimal time after the injury."
A winning combination of professionalism and advanced technology
Rafael Hospital has made it its mission to stand at the forefront of global progress in medical professionalism, technological innovation and a comprehensive personal human service experience. These visions and values are implemented daily in all hospitalization departments, operating rooms, which are among the most advanced in Israel and in the world, where a wide range of surgeries are performed by Israel's leading doctors, including orthopedic surgeries using the most advanced approaches and technologies, as well as in institutes and centers of excellence that enable patients to receive diagnosis, consultation and treatment on the spot.
Recovery process from a holistic view of the patient at the center
Every patient admitted to the hospital, certainly those who require complex surgical intervention, hopes to undergo the operation successfully and return home safely. But no less important is the recovery process during the hospitalization days and the patient's holistic vision. When the connection between body and mind is clear, it seems that the hospital has thought of every detail in order to make the stay pleasant for the patients and the family members who accompany them.
"In the midst of the suffering and pain, I also enjoyed an exceptional hospitalization experience that exceeded all my expectations. The treatment my wife and I received throughout my stay at Rafael Hospital, our support, help and accompaniment during the difficult moments of waiting for surgery and certainly afterwards are priceless.
Hospitalization Room, Rafael Hospital, Photo: Amit Geron,
The brothers and sisters as well as the auxiliary force were there at all times. The entire ward and the hospitalization rooms in particular allow us to focus on recovery. Starting the recovery process and slowly returning to function in a well-equipped and spacious room at a high level, greatly contributed to an improvement in mood", Gilad shares his hospitalization experience.
Operating Room, Rafael Hospital, Photo: Amit Geron,
"When I came out of surgery I was still full of sand and mud left on me after the ride. The strong, independent person I was suddenly needed help showering.
The staff member called to help me did so without causing me embarrassment, on the contrary. He did so pleasantly and constantly encouraged me that it was only a matter of time before I was back to who I was before the accident. I stayed in the hospital for four days and then went to rehabilitation at Beit Levinstein. Today I am considered fully rehabilitated and have returned to the usual "runs" of life. As for going back to riding, I'm still negotiating it with myself and my wife," he says with a smile.
Waiting lobby, Rafael Hospital Photo by: Amit Geron,
Rafael Hospital has a center for back health, directed by Dr. Eyal Barbalak, specializing in a variety of spinal pathologies. The center is equipped with advanced technologies used by the best doctors, who specialize, inter alia, in minimally invasive therapeutic approaches in order to achieve the best results for patients while emphasizing a beneficial quality of life and a quick return to routine life.
In association with Rafael Hospital