(JERUSALEM- January 6, 2015) Just one year ago, Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center experienced one of the most emotionally trying days in recent memory when four children from the Gross family were admitted to the hospital in critical condition after a poisoning incident in their home.
Tragically, the two younger children, both girls, died soon after their arrival. The older brothers were stabilized and after a long and intensive recovery process are today in good health.
Today, the Gross family returned to Shaare Zedek to experience a joy-filled moment as their mother Michal gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Speaking to the media from inside the Mother and Infant D Unit, the parents, Shimon and Michal Gross, said that the ultimate way to cope with the continuing grief from their tragedy is to celebrate the happy moments.
“The birth of a healthy son has allowed us to again see the good in life,” Shimon Gross said. “It’s remarkable to return to the same place where we experienced such tragedy just a year ago and now be able to be here for such a happy occasion. There are truly no words to describe what we’ve experienced.”
Michal said the blessing of being able to see the birth of a healthy child has given her a great deal of strength. They spent several moments speaking with Dr. Sarit Shahroor-Karni, the Director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit who was responsible for stabilizing the two boys during the extremely tense early hours after they arrived in the hospital. “Our only hope is that we will only see each other on happy occasions,” Shimon said.
Professor Arnon Samuelof, Director of the Department of Obstetrics at Shaare Zedek, was asked about his feelings after the birth, which he described as completely normal from a medical perspective. “The reality is that in a hospital where we see literally thousands of births a year, and this was the 125th birth in January alone, not everyone can stand out in our memories. But the emotion surrounding this one we are certain to remember for many years to come.”
