MDA israel

While at home, Ronen Refuah started to experience chest pain. He called MDA's 101 Emergency Call Number, and first responders Hagai Nof and Alexei Portnov were quickly on scene. A few moments after they arrived, Ronen collapsed in cardiac arrest. Hagai and Alexei immediately began CPR, and used the defibrillator to shock his heart. A few minutes later, his heart began beating again, and he was conveyed to hospital in stable condition to continue treatment and recovery.  

Once Ronen was discharged from hospital, Hagai and Alexei met him at his home, this time with smiles and a sense of joy for a special reunion. Ronen told them that he had taken upon himself to put on Tefillin every day, and to do an MDA course that will allow him to volunteer in the future, and saving lives himself. 

"I did remember much from that day," said Ronen, "but I know that thanks to the angels in white Hagai and Ronen, as well as the defibrillator, I came back to life and I'm even smiling. My family got me back thanks to MDA. I've decided after this incident that I also want to learn how to save lives, to turn tragedy into a miracle. 

"Arriving at Ronen's house without lights and sirens, and to see him standing and smiling with his family," said Senior MDA EMTs Hagai and Alexei, "is very exciting. Just two weeks ago he collapsed literally in our arms, and thanks to the defibrillator we managed to revive him and bring him back to his family. When we heard that he wants to learn first aid and take on a life-saving mission of his own, we were very pleased. We can't wait for him to join the MDA family and save lives."