rambam.org.il..
November '09..
During the Second Lebanon War, Officer Asael Lubotzky (now aged 26) from the esteemed Golani Infantry Brigade, was admitted to Rambam Health Care Campus after being seriously wounded from a direct anti-tank missile at the site of what became known as the Battle of Bint Jbeil. From the moment he began to receive treatment in the field and up until his arrival to the hospital, none of the treating doctors imagined that his right leg could be salvaged, but Dr. Alexander Lerner that operated on him at Rambam thought differently. Last Sunday, Asael Lubotzky stood under the chuppah and performed the breaking of the glass with his right leg.
In July, 2006, Officer Lubotzky arrived to Rambam, suffering from severe burns and injuries in both his legs. In those same dramatic moments, Lubotzky met the man who would change his life forever. Upon his arrival to the hospital, he was immediately wheeled into the operating room; there he was treated initially by Professor Michael Soudry, the Director of the Orthopedic Division at Rambam, and Dr. Alexander Lerner, Senior Orthopedic Surgeon in the Department Orthopedic Surgery A. His first encounter with Dr. Lerner Lubotzky, he does not recall, "I was unconscious at the time. Only after did I discover how pessimistic the field doctors were about the extent of my injuries prior to my arrival to the hospital; they contemplated where the best amputation spot would be."
The main goal of the operation at Rambam was to try to save Lubotzky legs, against all odds. After a long rehabilitation, Lubotzky underwent more than 20 orthopedic and cosmetic surgeries attended by Dr. Lerner. "Dr. Lerner stayed optimistic about the injuries to my legs from the very beginning," says Lubotzky in admiration, "He was so hopeful that he could save my leg and that one day, he'll be there to witness the "breaking of the glass" on my wedding day." These words are what kept Lubotzky going, throughout the long and often painful rehabilitation period.
At retrospect, Lubotzky's injuries brought him to notable accomplishments. Less than a year ago, his story was published in the book "From the Wilderness and Lebanon," by Yedioth Books that recounts his personal experiences from the Second Lebanon War. Within a very short time, almost from the moment it was printed, it entered the best seller list in Israel. About two years ago, Lubotzky was accepted to the Hadassah Medical School in Ein Karem. "A great part of this decision, to become a doctor, was inspired by the exemplary model set by Dr. Lerner," recalls Lubotzky.
About a year and a half ago, Lubotzky met his future wife, Avital Shimal (now 23) whom he wed just last week. "About two months ago, Asael called me up, and told me that he'd held up to his part of the bargain and that it was now my turn to hold up to mine," remembers Dr. Lerner. "With great excitement and emotion I stood at his wedding, watching him stand on his own two legs, under the chuppah, breaking the glass on his very first try, dancing with his family and friends, and even with me; the joy was great," tells Lerner. "Among the guests were former patients also admitted to Rambam during the Second Lebanon War, and I was happy to meet with them and see the progress of their recovery," he recalls.
According to Lubotzky, his wedding day marked his spiritual victory, "I was injured in Tu B'Av (ט"ו באב), the date of the modern Jewish holiday, "Day of Love" celebrated in Israel, and the night of a full moon." "My wedding day was also on Tu (ט"ו), not in the month of Av (אב), but still on an eve of a full moon," he recounts. "I think the most exciting part of that evening was the materialization of Dr. Lerner's optimism and hope."
Link: http://www.rambam.org.il/Home+Page/About+Us/News+and+Events/News+2009/The+Battle+that+Ended+in+Victory+for+One+Exceptional+Officer.htm
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