Chilean EMT Volunteers for MDA Service During Family Visit to Israel
Israeli-Chilean EMT Fulfills Dream of Operating with Magen David Adom During Month-Long Visit
Diana Gurvich, a 56-year-old business manager from Santiago, Chile, has fulfilled her long-held aspiration to operate alongside Israel's emergency medical teams. While visiting family in Israel for approximately a month, Diana has integrated volunteer shifts with Magen David Adom (MDA) into her schedule between family commitments and tourism activities.
In her everyday life, Diana serves as a volunteer EMT within Santiago's Jewish community, though she emphasizes that she provides medical assistance to anyone in need. "Each of our EMTs keeps a first aid kit in their car, and during an emergency, whoever is closest responds," Diana explains in her charming Spanish accent about her volunteer work in Chile.
Diana's colleagues in Chile have shown great interest in her experience. "My friends in Chile are already asking me: 'What can we do to fulfill this dream of saving lives on an MDA ambulance in Israel?'" she shares.
This week, Diana arrived in Israel for a month-long visit to reunite with family members she hadn't seen for an extended period and to attend a relative's wedding. Throughout her years as an EMT in Chile, Diana dreamed of coming to Israel to save lives alongside MDA teams. On Monday, her dream became reality when she reported to the MDA station in Tel Aviv, donned the white uniform shirt for the first time, boarded an ambulance, and participated in emergency response operations with MDA paramedics and EMTs.
"I've wanted to serve on an ambulance and treat patients with MDA teams for a long time. During this relatively extended visit to Israel, I realized this was my opportunity to fulfill that dream and do something meaningful for Israeli citizens during my free days," Diana explains.
She has been impressed by her experience with MDA:
"I was pleased to discover that the people at Magen David Adom, similar to those in Chile, give their heart to their patients and have a great desire to help and save lives. I'm impressed by the professional care the teams provide and the number of ambulances and intensive care mobile units that MDA operates. My friends in Chile want to know every detail about how to fulfill this dream because they would like to do it too. I'm glad I did it and I'm already looking forward to my next shift," Diana concludes enthusiastically.
