Imagine lying in a hospital bed, recovering from serious injuries, when suddenly a missile strikes right next to you. Sounds like a scene from a movie, right? For 24-year-old N., it’s a chilling reality he faced just a week after enduring life-saving surgeries.

N., an IDF combat soldier, was recuperating at Soroka Medical Center after sustaining multiple wounds during fierce combat in Gaza. The war with Iran was escalating, and all he wanted was to heal. But fate had other plans. On the exact day he was injured, a missile fired by Iranian forces hit the very hospital he was in. “The impact was right next to us,” he recalled. “The building shook, ceiling parts fell, windows shattered. It was terrifying, everything was smoking, but we made it through.”

The chaos began just days earlier, on a fateful Friday when N. was engaged in an operation in Jabaliya, Gaza. He and his comrade were ambushed, facing a deluge of gunfire that left him with wounds to his abdomen, right leg, and left hand. Miraculously, the bullets narrowly missed vital organs, and N. survived what could have been a fatal encounter. “It’s a miracle the shots missed vital organs,” he stated. “In my hand, the bullet narrowly missed a nerve, and in my leg, it passed by the knee without penetrating it.”

Evacuated to Soroka in critical condition, N. faced a grueling series of surgeries aimed at stabilizing his injuries. But just a week later, as he was beginning to find hope in his recovery, disaster struck again. The missile hit, sparking a fire on the hospital’s sixth floor. N. had to be evacuated again, this time on a stretcher, as he couldn’t walk due to his injuries. “They carried us out on stretchers because I couldn’t use the stairs,” he explained.

After extensive damage to Soroka, the hospital had to reduce its patient load, transferring some patients to other facilities. N. was among those moved, now receiving care at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv. Dr. Koren Dotan, a rehabilitation specialist there, discussed N.'s ongoing recovery, explaining that he was admitted to the orthopedic ward in the hospital’s fortified underground complex, a safe haven amid the chaos.

Recently transferred to a rehabilitation unit for young adults, N. has undergone another surgery on his hand and faces more procedures aimed at restoring his mobility and function. “We’re focusing on restoring function to his left hand and gradually starting walking rehabilitation through physiotherapy and occupational therapy,” Dotan shared.

Interestingly, N. isn’t just a soldier; he’s a lone soldier from the U.S. who made aliyah to Israel three years prior, joining his two older brothers. After dedicating time to study in a yeshiva, he enlisted in the IDF at 18, driven by his desire to be part of the nation. “I always wanted to live in Israel,” he said. “At 18, I didn’t think about it twice—I had to enlist to be part of the nation.” His commitment to serve saw him through months of intense fighting in Gaza, where he chose to be a combat soldier over an intelligence role. “I’m proud of what I did,” he affirmed confidently.

Now, with his mother by his side, who arrived from the U.S. shortly after his injury, he navigates recovery in a wheelchair adorned with a “new driver” sign crafted by his brother, a lighthearted touch to ease the seriousness of his situation. “It’s great having my mom here,” he said, flashing a smile. “The hospital staff has been amazing, and we’re so grateful.” Despite the physical hurdles he faces, N. is focused on his future. He plans to study at university and settle in Israel once he’s back on his feet. “I’ve got time,” he said with determination. “Right now, it’s about healing.”