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A LIFE IN THE BALANCE - ACCIDENT VICTIM SAVED BY QUICK AIR TRANSFER

(July 2006) Tragedy struck a Lakewood family one summer evening, when Rabbi Yechiel Nakdimen, fundraiser for Beis Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey, was driving in the mountains. When an oncoming driver approached too fast, the two cars collided. The other driver was pronounced dead on the scene.

Rabbi Nakdimen was trapped in his vehicle with life-threatening injuries. An ambulance brought him to a local hospital in Poughkeepsie. But his family was determined to get him the best care available.

The Refuah Helpline in Monroe, New York, referred them to Jewish Lifeline Network. Hearing that the accident involved a fatality, Rabbi Leider knew that Rabbi Nakdimen’s injuries were much more serious than the open femur fracture that he was informed of. Indeed, he suffered sever lacerations to the head and eye, blindness in one eye, fractured ribs, a dislocated shoulder and severe blood loss.

Within minutes, Rabbi Leider has secured clearance for an air ambulance helicopter to take Rabbi Nakdimen to Newark University Hospital (UMDNJ), which features one of the most expert and technologically advanced trauma centers in the region.

At UMDNJ, Rabbi Nakdimen underwent reconstructive surgery on his crushed legs and feet, and he received life-saving blood infusions. After three weeks in UMDNJ’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit and almost four weeks in rehabilitation, Rabbi Nakdimen was finally on the road to recovery.

Rabbi Leider’s swift response had secured Rabbi Nakdimen the best health care possible at UMDNJ …

Photo bellow shows: Rabbi Nakdimen with Rabbi Leider visiting the New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau  to personally thank them for their extraordinary care and professionalism that saved his life