"The Fastest Donation"

Nissim Ankaveh, a resident of Hadera and owner of a well-known wedding hall in the area, smashed his leg while landing a Buckeye (powered paraglider). He was brought to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center and underwent orthopedic surgery to repair the compound fracture. While recovering from surgery, he decided he wanted to do something special that would be meaningful for other patients at the hospital, as a gesture to the staff of the Orthopedic Department that had cared for him so well.

When he was almost to go home, about a week and a half ago, Ankaveh went to the office of the Director of Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Prof. Meir Oren, and asked to meet with him as urgently as possible.

"I would like to donate 30 wheelchairs," he said. "In fact, they are already on their way. They'll be here in a couple of hours. That's my way of thanking you for the very dedicated care I received - from ER to Orthopedics Department A, you simply saved my leg. The doctors, nurses and the entire staff - that's not something you see every day."

In the department and the hospital they were very pleasantly surprised by the gift, which was received with all the honors due. Prof. Oren thanked Mr. Ankaveh for his willingness and goodwill, and noted that in all likelihood this was the quickest donation in the hospital's history, and it would be put to excellent use for patients for many years to come.

Ankaveh also donated a new television to the Orthopedics Department for patients there, and this too has already been installed and is in use. "This is my local hospital," said Ankaveh, "I think it is an honor to donate to such a place. I intend to donate more in the future, and I have already asked my friends, business people in Hadera and the area, to do the same."

Nissim Ankaveh with the Orthopedics A Department and the wheelchairs he donated