Ariel (ben Lia) Yered of Atzmonah, who was critically wounded in a Palestinian mortar attack over two years ago when he was 15 months old, underwent a rare and successful operation last week, and appears to have taken another step on his long road to recovery.
After the shelling attack, doctors were forced to remove a portion of Ariel's skull in order to relieve the pressure of blood and fluids and thus save his life. They kept the bone in deep-freeze, however, so that it would be ready to be returned to Ariel's head when possible. That time arrived last week, Ariel's mother Lia told Yosef Zalmanson, "and the doctors were happy to see that even though it hadn't grown during this time, the gap was not that large... All this time, of course, we had to be always on guard that Ariel would not fall, as his brain was not fully protected - and thank G-d, even though he is now an active child, he was able to deal with wearing a helmet - most of the time, anyway - and with being extra careful."
Yossi, Ariel's father, said,
"We see this operation as a closing of a circle - in both senses of the word. It means, of course, that his head is now protected all around once again, but it also means that he has passed another stage on his way to recovery. We see it as a great privilege from G-d to have been able, and to continue, to raise Ariel - but I also know that we are playing a role in helping others, as well… For instance, a woman from Tel Aviv saw Ariel on television a few days ago, and called up and said, 'I've been looking for you for two and a quarter years, and only now was I able to find you. Please, please, I would like to send Ariel a gift…' She then told me how much she admires us, and would like to live in Yesha if she could, and about her own troubles - and I realized again that our struggle is not only our own, but is also an inspiration to other people as well."
After the shelling attack, doctors were forced to remove a portion of Ariel's skull in order to relieve the pressure of blood and fluids and thus save his life. They kept the bone in deep-freeze, however, so that it would be ready to be returned to Ariel's head when possible. That time arrived last week, Ariel's mother Lia told Yosef Zalmanson, "and the doctors were happy to see that even though it hadn't grown during this time, the gap was not that large... All this time, of course, we had to be always on guard that Ariel would not fall, as his brain was not fully protected - and thank G-d, even though he is now an active child, he was able to deal with wearing a helmet - most of the time, anyway - and with being extra careful."
Yossi, Ariel's father, said,
"We see this operation as a closing of a circle - in both senses of the word. It means, of course, that his head is now protected all around once again, but it also means that he has passed another stage on his way to recovery. We see it as a great privilege from G-d to have been able, and to continue, to raise Ariel - but I also know that we are playing a role in helping others, as well… For instance, a woman from Tel Aviv saw Ariel on television a few days ago, and called up and said, 'I've been looking for you for two and a quarter years, and only now was I able to find you. Please, please, I would like to send Ariel a gift…' She then told me how much she admires us, and would like to live in Yesha if she could, and about her own troubles - and I realized again that our struggle is not only our own, but is also an inspiration to other people as well."