'Still Trying To Process:' LI Woman Who Works For Israeli Hospital

ROSLYN, NY — As Israel retaliates from the surprise weekend terrorist attack, one Long Islander has a personal stake in what's happening.

Vida Ohebshalom is the U.S. Director of Resource Development for the Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon, an Israeli city on the Gaza border hit hard by Hamas.

She was awoken by a call from the hospital before dawn on Saturday.

"Shock, disbelief and total devastation," Ohebshalom, who lives in Roslyn, told Patch about her immediate feelings. "I think everyone is still trying to process the whole thing."

Barzilai Medical Center sits six miles away from the Gaza Strip. She said it's the only hospital that has been targeted by missile attacks from Gaza. But this time, Ohebshalom said, the facility was in the crosshairs of the assault.

"The hospital has taken a hit, shrapnel was flown into the pediatric department of the children's hospital," she said. "Another one of the buildings had massive structural damage to it."

Ohebshalom said no one at the hospital was hurt from the opening salvos.

"The hospital has two underground facilities that are sheltered and fortified," she said they can accommodate up to 300 patients: "The most critical patients are taken down there," which includes neo-natal infants and newborns.

The delicate situation comes as they are treating "hundreds of patients," who are victims from Gaza and Israel, including IDF soldiers.

Challenges are mounting for Barzilai.

"They're dealing with resources that are depleting rapidly," she said. "They're dealing with having to reinforce the damage that's been done to the hospital. They're overwhelmed."

The hospital is seeking donations to stay afloat with the necessary resources.

Ohebshalom, who has friends and family in Israel, typically visits the hospital twice a year. She last went to Barzilai in June.

"I am heartbroken, but at the same time amazed by the incredible outpouring of support and love that I'm feeling," she said. "People are genuinely compassionate and want to know how they can help. That's been very comforting amidst this horrible tragedy.”