A Heartwarming Full Circle

Twelve years ago, the Shalev family faced every parent's worst nightmare when their eldest son, Nadav, then just a year old, suffered a head injury after a fall. Though he initially seemed fine, he later began vomiting. Recognizing the urgency, his parents rushed him to Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, part of the Clalit Group.

A CT scan quickly revealed extensive internal bleeding in Nadav's brain, and emergency surgery was his only chance for survival. Dr. Steve Jackson, a senior neurosurgeon at Beilinson Hospital who was on call at Schneider Children's that night, performed the complex procedure.

For days after the surgery, Nadav remained under close supervision in Schneider Children's intensive care unit. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the medical team, he gradually recovered and was eventually discharged home - a moment his family would never forget.

Now, 13 years later, that journey has come full circle. Nadav recently celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, marking his transition into adulthood. Among the guests was Dr. Jackson, who had come to celebrate with the family. When the time came to place the Tefillin, the Rabbi invited him to participate in the meaningful moment. Seeing the doctor who had once fought for Nadav's life standing by his side at this milestone left no one in the room unmoved.

Reflecting on the experience, Nadav's mother, Moran, shared:

"During those two weeks in intensive care, it felt like our world had stopped. Dr. Steve Jackson was the one who reassured us that Nadav would be okay. He gave us hope when we felt hopeless. Today, apart from the scar on his head, there's no trace of what happened. Nadav is a gifted student and an outstanding athlete. We send Dr. Jackson flowers every year to remind him that he's our angel. Over the years, we've met twice more, as he performed the circumcision ceremonies for Nadav's younger brothers, Ido and Asaf. But nothing compared to the full-circle moment at Nadav's Bar Mitzvah when Dr. Jackson honored us with his presence. We are forever grateful to him and the incredible team at Schneider Children's for bringing us to this day."