"Helicopters and ambulances bring in a constant stream of casualties. The entire department's here – secular, religious, Jewish, Muslim and Christian doctors all came, and all work together as one".
Soroka's heroes and heroines write and share their stories:
Dr. Alex Geftler, an attending orthopedist, clearly recalls and describes the first hours and days of the war:
"On October 7th, 2023, Saturday and Simchat Torah, I woke up at 6:00 am, dressed in my workout clothes, and planned to take a walk around the neighborhood. At 6:20 am, I was taken aback by distant explosions. I started walking, and was only 30 meters away from home when an air-raid siren pierced the air. My heart raced, and drawing from past experiences, I decided to head back home. I joined my family in our sheltered room and remained there for 90 minutes as the sirens grew more frequent.
Then, my phone buzzed, and I received an alert about a mass-casualty incident at the hospital. I changed clothes and left. The roads were empty, and the drive to the hospital was shorter than usual. The hospital entrance was filled with cars, some even blocking the road, an odd sight, especially for a Saturday. One particular car caught my attention – I noticed bullet holes and blood on the door and passenger seat.
The ED itself was flooded by dozens, even hundreds, of casualties and hospital staff members. There was scarcely any room left. It was clear to me that we were in the midst of a devastating event with a steadily rising number of casualties. Helicopters and ambulances were arriving non-stop. I knew we needed an organized patient management system and a clear plan of action.
I personally briefed each orthopedist in the ED, providing clear instructions regarding their assigned tasks. We formed teams, each consisting of an attending physician and two residents. Patients underwent triage in the surgical ER and were then directed to either the orthopedic ER or the trauma room.
After initial examinations, some patients required CT scans or x-rays, antibiotics, or wound care. Others were admitted to the ED, ICU, recovery room, or the hospitalization ward. The injuries were severe, but the stories of the casualties were even more heart-wrenching.
In the ORs, patients were brought in one after another. In the recovery room, medical teams diligently monitored patients, maintaining detailed records. We established an impromptu command center in the orthopedic ward, receiving updates from the entire hospital.
Everyone worked together, as one united team.
The list of patients continued to grow, and we realized the casualty count must be alarmingly high – reaching 160 orthopedic casualties. We submitted a request to transfer patients to other hospitals, and decided who should be moved after careful examination. As the helicopters touched down, we felt a semblance of control returning.
The combination of brief moments of rest between surgeries and examinations, along with the surge of adrenaline, kept us going.
As Sunday morning dawned, we gathered in the meeting room. This wasn't a routine meeting; it resembled more of a military briefing before a crucial operation. The sheer volume of casualties required the utilization of all available resources, from attending physicians to residents.
The entire department's here – secular, religious, Jewish, Muslim and Christian doctors all came Even physicians who had previously left the hospital felt compelled to return, driven by their own sense of duty. Additionally, doctors from Carmel and HaSharon hospitals joined us, providing invaluable aid in both the ED and operating rooms. All egos were set aside, and no demands or requests were made.\
Everyone took on any task at hand, including patient transport, as that was what the situation called for."
