Number 55: With Sheryl’s due date imminent we were allocated a second Kubiya  (“Cube” – one bedroomed house) next door to the first and held a birthday party in it for our great friend Edana Paiker, evening 23/12/1985.  

After the guests had left, Sheryl called me from the bathroom. A blue umbilical cord had fallen out of her.  Exceedingly quick developments from there: Suddenly the Kibbutz’ nursing sister was making an emergency call to the ambulance driver – Mark Davis, a Kibbutz Member and friend. In no time we were hurtling down the mountain on a wet, stormy, wintery night on the treacherous, winding, hairpin bend filled road through the Arab town of Deir El Assad. Sheryl, now lying down in the Ambulance, both of us not grasping at all what was really happening, trying to ensure doing the correct breathing exercises she had been taught!

Upon arrival at the closest hospital in Nahariyah, rather than the planned Carmel Hospital in Haifa, the Doctors took the stretcher and sprinted into the operating theatre, midst appeals from Sheryl to discuss whether she should have a Caesarean Section or not!

Yair was born three minutes later by emergency caesarean section, early morning 24/12/1985. Sheryl had had a prolapsed cord, which we were subsequently told is an extremely dangerous development, usually resulting in long term harm to or death of the baby – especially if the prolapse does not occur when in hospital!

As it was Yair’s Apgar, reflecting the baby’s health, was a spectacular 9/10!. He had jaundice though and needed to be in an incubator under lights with eyes covered to protect him. The nursing sister said to Sheryl that he was moving around the incubator  with such speed and ease that he would make an excellent paratrooper! All his mother needed to hear about her day old first born!

Hackey – Sheryl’s gynaecologist father, did not believe Raymond’s telephonic description of events. “Impossible” he said. “It would be a miracle if it happened that way  – can’t be”. “Please put me onto a Medical Doctor so I can determine what really transpired”!!