After attending their favorite singer’s show in Ashdod one evening, the foursome headed to the ice cream parlor. But then 52-year-old Yael suddenly felt weak and numb, struggling to walk.
The twins immediately called MAGEN DAVID ADOM’s emergency hotline, shouting in panic, “The entire left side of our mother’s face is twisted, we need an ambulance!”
Within a few minutes, an ambulance arrived headed by senior EMT Yarin Gazit. They realized that Yael was having a stroke and quickly transported her to the hospital fully conscious but confused.
“Mom wouldn’t stop talking about how much she wanted ice cream while she was being driven to the hospital,” May recalled. “She didn’t understand what she was going through. We’re not used to seeing our mom so confused and it wasn’t easy.”
“As soon as we arrived and examined Yael, it was impossible to ignore her drooping lips and face and her difficulty walking, signs that can indicate a stroke,” Gazit explained. “Yael’s daughters did the right thing calling MDA right away. A stroke can cause irreversible damage to the patient. Early identification and appropriate treatment are what can reduce and even prevent the damage. So, it is important to act quickly from the moment the signs of a stroke first appear.”
After a long hospitalization and rehabilitation, Yael finally returned home and invited the team that saved her life over to visit. At the reunion, Yael recalled what she remembered from the day of her stroke: “The last thing I remember is that at the end of the show I had difficulty walking.”
“I’m proud of my twins who saw the signs and quickly called for help,” Yael said proudly of her daughters.
To the team Yael said, “Thank you for coming to help me. The treatment you provided saved my life.”
Gazit replied to her with no less excitement, “I’m happy to finally see you back to health, smiling beautifully and symmetrically. Thanks to your daughters, we were able to get you to the hospital as quickly as possible and prevent irreversible damage. Now, you will be able to go to another show and eat ice cream with your family afterwards.”