Dear Friends,
Do not worry. I intended to write for several days. Honestly, yes, the delay is because coping is more difficult. Adrenalin must be returning to normal, allowing fatigue to set in. During my schools I functioned under pressure, allowing myself to cave when the exam was over, but this test seems never-ending. Then, just to add a bit of interest, the last day of official fighting, while Naseralla attempted to empty his stock piles on us, I really wanted to write. But I knew I needed to head home during a break, not matter how tenuous. With all this, and in as PC terms as I can muster, a plumbing indiscretion developed in the corridor outside my office. Determined to save my office’s dignity, I remained until the drain covers were securely replaced and the floor washed twice, before heading into the dark to go home. - OK, so the first day of the ceasefire was surely appropriate to let you all know how much you meant to me and how you saw me through the 34 days, but come evening when I had been allowing myself to write, an over-zealous maintenance worker over-fumigated outside the building, resulting in all neighboring offices emptying out ASAP.
I will not let another day go by without thanking you - for listening, for volunteering, for supporting us. You were there for me and for all of us. Thank you. We could not and cannot accomplish what we did without you.
No, we did not call on our many volunteers, and I know you wanted to come and still want to help. I know it is easier when you are giving, when you are in control, at least of what you are doing. It feels cruel not to have allowed you this comfort, this extreme expression of solidarity. Please, understand; many factors were taken into consideration, not the least of which, is that WGH staff gave their all and thank goodness was able to manage. We will not forget your offers and have each and every one on file and will discuss these, too.
I took Liane Thompson, producer, video-journalist (of Discovery Channel and the series on Level One Trauma Centers) around WGH as the war ended. I cried as I introduced her to the family of Assadi Fares, a three-year-old boy from Der Al Assad who lost not only his mother and five-year-old brother, but also his leg. His grandmother lies in ICU, after loosing her leg in the same attack. Death and destruction, for what? Why? As Dr. Daniel said, “Even animals don’t do this to each other.” Is this why we were created? As we walked through the shelter housing Pediatric Surgery, a young mother hearing our English and welcomed us into the room, allowing Liane to film her sleeping baby. But then she quickly asked, where will this be shown? In Lebanon? She and her family are Lebanese refugees living in Nahariya for the last seven years. No names are taken.
Numbers everywhere: numbers of rockets, numbers of dead and wounded, numbers of soldiers, costs of war, costs of rebuilding. People did not rush home as they did after the shelling in previous decades. Many reservists have been released, but the IDF is also skeptical. My son, home for Shabbat, returned to the base for another few days of readiness, just in case.
When things quiet down, I want to compile some of the lessons learned by the hospital. Debriefing will take a while. It’s slow coming. Certain things seem off limits; I don’t know why. Many had their close calls, getting caught going to or from work, running from the car to take cover. Why is this embarrassing? Why don’t we discuss it openly? What other things aren’t people saying… I think the ERG course in November will prove to be another form of debriefing.
My heartfelt thanks to you for being there for us, and keep in touch.
May we find a lasting Peace,
Judy
Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya