"The closest thing to a medical miracle that I've ever seen." So said Dr. Yehuda Ullman, head of the Burn Unit at Rambam Hospital in Haifa, upon the release yesterday of a man who suffered burns over 93% of his body five months ago. Ilan Machlouf, 30, of Beit She'an, was injured in an explosion at the Nerot Etzion factory in Kibbutz Merav in the Gilboa region. The doctors told the family at the time that he had little chance of living. "A victim who remains alive after more than 90% of body is burnt is very rare - less than 5% around the world," said Dr. Ullman.
But his wife Sagit did not leave his side and refused to give up hope: "I kept on telling him: you have a wife, a son, and a home, and you have to live!" The hospital staff treated him with dedication throughout this time, including for 117 days in the intensive care unit. In a very emotional and teary parting from the hospital yesterday, Ilan thanked the doctors and nurses, including Dr. Yaron Bar-Lavi, head of the emergency ward. "Until now the doctors took care of me," he said, "and now I will have to help myself get better. This is the harder part. It's up to me, but I don't plan to give up." He will continue his recuperation in Beit Levenstein in Raanana.
But his wife Sagit did not leave his side and refused to give up hope: "I kept on telling him: you have a wife, a son, and a home, and you have to live!" The hospital staff treated him with dedication throughout this time, including for 117 days in the intensive care unit. In a very emotional and teary parting from the hospital yesterday, Ilan thanked the doctors and nurses, including Dr. Yaron Bar-Lavi, head of the emergency ward. "Until now the doctors took care of me," he said, "and now I will have to help myself get better. This is the harder part. It's up to me, but I don't plan to give up." He will continue his recuperation in Beit Levenstein in Raanana.