Pasha Never Expected Returning to Sheba as a Patient

August 23, 2024

Captain Pasha Hetz is a 40-year-old reserve officer in the 35th Airborne Brigade.

A seasoned paramedic, Pasha has spent years in the civilian sector as an ER nurse after working in the operating room at Sheba Medical Center.

On October 7, 2023, he was called back to duty, joining his battalion for operations that would eventually lead to a life-altering experience.

On the morning of December 4, 2023, Pasha and his team were deep in combat operations in the Sajaiya area. They were tasked with evacuating a soldier who had suffered a severe laceration to his hand. The medical team, including Pasha, loaded the injured soldier onto their APC and began the treacherous journey back to the medical unit. The quickest route was uncleared by engineers and as a result, very risky.

Two minutes into the ride, a bright flash filled the APC, followed by a fireball and a deafening blast. The APC was hit by an RPG fired from just five meters away. The shell penetrated the external armor, causing chaos inside the vehicle.

Thick smoke, blood, and shrapnel quickly filled the confined space. Five of the nine men inside were injured, including Pasha, who lost four fingers on his right hand. The soldier they were evacuating lost his left arm below the elbow.

In those terrifying moments, Pasha’s training kicked in. He realized he was on fire—one of his ammunition magazines had exploded on him.

Despite the intense pain and shock, he managed to extinguish the flames, but not before witnessing two of his fingers being torn from his hand. The APC driver, despite the chaos, managed to keep the vehicle moving, navigating through the battlefield at full speed.

As they sped towards the medical unit, the team worked together, applying tourniquets and providing emergency care to each other. Pasha, despite his severe injuries, remained focused, directing others to help him as he assessed the damage to his hand. Upon reaching the safe zone, they disembarked and received critical treatment. Pasha was airlifted to Sheba Medical Center—ironically, the very place where he had worked as a nurse.

At Sheba, Pasha underwent 12 surgeries, including attempts to reconstruct his right thumb using a toe from his right foot. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful, leaving Pasha not only without fingers but also without a toe. Despite these setbacks, Pasha’s resilience shone through. He found the transition to patient not difficult, saying, “I knew a lot of the medical staff members who treated me since most of them worked with me before the war. When I moved from the orthopedic division to rehab, I met new medical and nursing staff members and was exposed to a new field I knew nothing about—not as a patient, anyway.”

Pasha was deeply moved by the dedication of the staff at Sheba, who he described as “good men and women who work tirelessly day and night to literally pick us up from the bottom, bring us back to life from a state of broken and dysfunctional pieces of meat, to people who survived their worst, adapted to the unknown, overcame their hardest, and regained confidence to return to life as close to what they were before.”

Pasha’s story is one of survival, determination, and the unwavering human spirit. He continues to adapt to his injuries, even preparing to return to active duty. His journey is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by those who serve and the incredible strength it takes to overcome the unimaginable.

Am Yisrael Chai.