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Monday, September 26, 2005
Elroi Refa'el 
*
Over the past few weeks I have been getting an increasing number of comments and emails asking after the welfare of Lieutenant Elroi Refa'el Mizrahi; 'Is he OK?' ... 'Is there any change in his condition?' ... 'Any Improvement at all???'
Those who don't know who I'm talking about can go here and here to catch up.
For those of you who have been following along, the reason I haven't posted any updates about him is that it tears my heart out to see the words 'no change in his condition' written down in black and white.
After someone sustains such a serious head wound/brain stem injury, 'no change' can sometimes be a blessing in disguise because changes can happen in the blink of an eye... and not always for the best. But it is still a terrible thing to watch a vibrant young man's life hang in the balance.
Elroi Refa'el's friends have continued to gather at the hospital, and his family has held a vigil by his bedside in hopes that their voices will stimulate his unconscious mind and bring comfort to his undamaged soul.
A couple of days ago Elroi Refa'el was transferred from Soroka hospital in Beer Sheva to Beit Lowenstein Hospital in Ra'anana for intensive rehabilitative treatments. This move was made possible because this brave young lieutenant fought his way back to the surface... opened his eyes... and rejoined the world of the conscious!
This is not to say that he is out of the woods. He is not.
Although he is awake and has been able to recognize and speak to his family, one side of his body remains paralyzed.
It is not yet known whether this paralysis is temporary or permanent, but he is now in one of the best rehabilitative facilities in the world... and whatever function/mobility he is destined to regain will come as a result of the highly skilled staff at Beit Levenstein, your continued prayers/good thoughts and the mercy of the One who created the world.
I am 100% convinced that the many thoughts and prayers directed at this young man from around the globe have allowed him to reach this important crossroads.
Please don't give up on him now.
Please continue to have Elroi Refa'el ben Galia Glynis in your thoughts and close to your hearts.
* The Hebrew acronym for 'Until one hundred and twenty years'
Posted by David Bogner on September 26, 2005 | Permalink
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Wow. So glad to hear that he is moving in the right direction. Thank you for updating us.
Posted by: Sarah | Sep 26, 2005 11:08:17 AM
I'm crying at the good news. Thanks for letting us know.
Posted by: jennifer | Sep 26, 2005 11:11:09 AM
That is truly wonderful news. I am so glad to read it. I will renew my contacts to add to the prayers said in London for him. Now, I'll see whether I can get my daughter's sem and other contacts in Jerusalem to add theirs too.
Ad meah v'esrim shana... and my thoughts are as ever with his parents too, and may they too hear only good news. Thanks for updating us.
Posted by: Judy | Sep 26, 2005 12:31:39 PM
Oh, this is wonderful news. I have tears in my eyes.
I'd been thinking of Elroi Rafael over the past several days and wondering how he was doing, but I figured you'd tell us as soon as there was any news.
Thank you so much. I'll keep davening for him.
Posted by: Rahel | Sep 26, 2005 1:34:11 PM
That is absolutely great news! He will continue to be in my daily prayers.
Posted by: Steve Bogner | Sep 26, 2005 2:01:23 PM
I'm so really happy to hear the good news. These past few weeks I've been saying his name aloud a few times every day and trying to send him and his family my good wishes. I want to believe that it has helped at least a little bit.
It is such a strange thing. I don't know anything about Elroi Refa'el, except for what you David have written in your journal. But I feel as if he was a close relative.
Posted by: Sandra | Sep 26, 2005 2:37:18 PM
Yay!! What wonderful news for a Monday morning. *knocks wood*
Off to cry now. :o)
Posted by: Tanya | Sep 26, 2005 2:48:03 PM
Thanks for letting us know the great news!
Posted by: Essie | Sep 26, 2005 3:33:32 PM
It's wonderful news that his condition is improving, even if only by small degrees. Thanks for letting us know. Of course he will remain in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by: zemirah | Sep 26, 2005 3:42:18 PM
Thanks for the update, David. I have continued to include Elroi Rafael in my daily prayers; I like to think it would bring him comfort to know that people around the world are thinking of him and praying for a refu'ah sh'leimah.
Posted by: Elisson | Sep 26, 2005 5:28:20 PM
I am happy to read that there is some improvement. May it continue unabated.
Posted by: Jack | Sep 26, 2005 5:28:38 PM
Hi Bogey. Imagine my surprise upon entering the world of bloggers, to find out that you're famous!! you can email me at [email protected] but please leave me my anonymity :)
Hope you and Zahava are doing really well.
Posted by: mata hari | Sep 26, 2005 9:31:08 PM
Sarah... After all the drama over here in the past week or two I was more than happy to have some very good news to share.
Jennifer... Spoken (written) like the mother of a soldier.
Judy... Thank you so much. I saw the email on which you copied me. You are very thoughtful.
Rahel... I am just so relieved to have positive news to share. Thanks for keeping him in your prayers.
Steve... Between my crowd and yours we have most of the bases covered. Now if only we had a Buddhist or two who were willing to do their part... :-)
Tanya... You big softy you! :-)
Essie... Trust me when I say that I never keep good news to myself. :-)
Zemirah... Thanks. Much appreciated.
Elisson... I have mentioned to his parents and siblings several times that people from all over the world have read about Elroi Refa'el on my blog and that they have kept him in their thoughts. I can't tell you how moved they were that total strangers would care so much about their son!
Jack... Amen.
Mata Hari... Welcome to treppenwitz! Nice to see a 'face' from the old neighborhood!
Posted by: David | Sep 26, 2005 11:17:32 PM
ברוך השם
ברוך רופא חולים
נקווה להחלמה מלאה ולבשורות טובות
just in case the following week is busier than usual...Shana Tova to you and yours and thank you for sharing your life/blog. It is a real delight.
Posted by: savta yaffa | Sep 27, 2005 1:19:33 AM
This news about Elroi Refa'el has made my day! I am thrilled about his improvement.
He is still on the Mesheberach list at my shul and will stay on it. His name is read by the rabbi each Friday evening and Sat. morning during services.
Continued thoughts and prayers are Elroi Refa'el and his family.
Posted by: Stacey | Sep 27, 2005 4:19:50 PM
Savtayaffa... From your lips to G-d's... um, whatever it is He listens with. :-) May we all be inscribed...
Stacey... Thank you, and please thank your Rabbi for doing this hesed.
Posted by: David | Sep 27, 2005 9:25:42 PM
Refuah Shlema.
I am moved by all the comments. Often when you hear that a someone was wounded in the news, the next day there is new news, and you tend to forget about all the people that are still struggling to recover and the families and friends that are supporting them every day.
Posted by: MamaWombat | Sep 28, 2005 4:06:51 AM
David,
B"H that he is moving forward! I know what it is like to wait as a loved one is in a coma state. I am infinitely gladdened that Elroi Refael has re-joined the land of the concious! Hashem should continue to bless his family and all of us, and should inscribe us in his book, l'Tova!
K'tiva V'Chatima Tova!
Faye
Posted by: Faye | Sep 28, 2005 5:35:39 AM
Thanks for the update ! I hope Elroi Refa'el will get better step by step.
I was so busy that i only caught up on your last posts today.
Shana tova to you and your family!
Posted by: Jany | Sep 29, 2005 1:38:16 PM
Lovely, lovely, lovely, simply lovely! He will recover, he is young, he is alive and awake, this is lovely.
Posted by: Lioness | Sep 30, 2005 3:47:45 AM
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