On the night of November 6, Yagel, 20, was among three soldiers guarding the junction, to ensure that civilian vehicles could travel safely from Jerusalem to Hebron. Suddenly from across the junction, terrorists opened fire on the soldiers. One bullet struck Yagel in the head. Critically injured, he was rushed to Swartz Center for Emergency Medicine trauma unit at Hadassah Hospital.
Surgeons moved Yagel quickly into the operating room to stabilize him and save his life. He spent more than a month in the neurosurgery intensive care unit in the Sarah Wetsman Davidson Hospital Tower.
On December 4, Yagel was moved out of intensive care into a room on the 9th floor neurosurgery department. His Dad and Mom, two brothers and two sisters-as well as his girlfriend Danielle who is also a soldier, never leave his side. Yagel’s girlfriend received special permission to remain in the room. They met as teens in the Bnei Akiva youth movement. She is serving in the North, while he is serving in the territories.
Visiting them also is Yakira Aharoni, mother of Moshe Yonaton Aharoni, a soldier who was gravely injured a year ago in Gush Etzion. She remembers fondly meeting Hadassah National President Marcie Natan who promised her that the prayers of the 330,000 members of Hadassah would be with her son. Thankfully, he is doing well, scheduled to return to Hadassah in coming months for an orthopedic shoulder fix. She recalls the tough days last November and gives Yagel's family encouragement as they go through this rough period.
Yagel is able to communicate through his i-pad. He writes that he loves his family, and of course, his dark-eyed beautiful girlfriend, Danielle. Says his Mom. "When he finally was awakened and could communicate with us, it was the thrill of a Mom hearing her baby say his first words, even if they were on an ipad. We know our Yagel is in there!'"
"I can't thank Hadassah enough," she says. "I, too, would like to ask for the prayers of the women of Hadassah wherever they are. Please pray for the full recovery of our beloved son, Yagel ben Hofit."
Hadassah wishes Yagel Refuya Shleima!