MDA israel

Some babies are perfectly happy to wait until their parents are ready. Others clearly have plans of their own. For one little girl in northern Israel, waiting until her mother reached the hospital was simply not on the agenda.

Her mother was 25 years old, 37 weeks pregnant, and expecting her third child. When contractions began coming just five minutes apart, her husband called MDA’s National Emergency Dispatch Center, hoping there was still enough time to reach Rambam Medical Center. When MDA teams arrived, the expectant mother was already waiting outside with her husband, ready to go. The plan was simple: get her to the hospital before the baby arrived. But their daughter had other ideas.

As the ambulance made its way toward the hospital, the contractions intensified. Within moments, it became clear that the baby wasn't going to wait. The MDA team prepared for the delivery, and moments later, a baby girl was born right there inside the ambulance. Her first cries filled the small space, bringing relief and excitement to everyone around her. Both mother and daughter were doing well and were transported to Rambam Medical Center for continued care.

For MDA senior EMT and ambulance driver Hussani Dalasha, 35, who has volunteered with MDA for 12 years, the experience was unforgettable. “The moment I remember most is when the baby girl came into the world, right there inside the ambulance,” he recalled. “There was an enormous responsibility to stay calm and act professionally, but also so much excitement. Seeing that the mother and baby were doing well was an incredible feeling.”

As a father of two young children himself, the moment touched Hussani in a particularly personal way. “As a father myself, this moment touched me especially deeply,” he shared. “It reminded me just how precious every life is, and how meaningful our work at MDA can be during the most important and sensitive moments in people's lives.”

For 22-year-old MDA volunteer lead paramedic Shay Ashkenazi, who has dedicated seven years to the organization, the experience carried a similar meaning. “It was an incredible experience,” Shay shared. “An extraordinary sense of purpose that reminded me why I chose to do this work.”

We often tell stories about MDA's work during life's most frightening moments: the accidents, the illnesses, and the emergencies when every second matters. But saving lives takes many forms. Sometimes it means restoring a heartbeat. Sometimes it means stopping a dangerous bleed. And sometimes it means being there when a brand-new life enters the world.

And for one little girl who simply couldn't wait, her very first journey began in the back of an MDA ambulance.

Welcome to the world, little one. We're so glad we could be there to meet you.