Five days before the ceasefire with Lebanon, First Lieutenant Asa'el Lubotsky’s life was changed forever when a missile hit his armored personnel carrier (APC). Here, he tellls his story:

"The guys fighting in Bint Jebeil were in distress. They were short of food, water and medicine. As we had no approval to land a helicopter on site, we had to drive the supplies along a tortuous route, by-passing enemy villages in an attempt to avoid getting hit.

"Suddenly, I noticed a glare of light coming from a few hundred metres away. Seconds later I heard the boom on the back side of the APC. All of us were wounded.

"Our platoon commander, who was traveling behind us, saw the smoke coming out of our vehicle. He ordered the tanks nearby to provide protection by shooting in all directions and creating a smoke screen. He was then able to evacuate us from the top of our APC.

"I was transported back to Israel on a stretcher inside a tank. I was fully conscious the entire way and felt unbearable pain in my legs. The bones were crushed and the only thing that kept my right leg together were some pieces of flesh. I lost a lot of blood. The doctors thought that my right leg required amputation. However after many hours of very complex surgery, they managed to save it. Even today, the nerves at the bottom of my foot barely function.

"Before my injury I loved to swim and run. At Beit Halochem, they have many sports programs with highly trained coaches, who are helping me regain the strength in my legs so that I can participate in the activities I still love. I am scheduled to visit the hydrotherapist and physiotherapist 3 times a week.

"I have plans for the future but it’s clear to me that along the way I will have to work hard. My rehabilitation will take a lot of time.

"I am sorry that before my injury I didn’t carry out my plan to hike the length of the country. It will obviously be more difficult to do so now – I know I shall get there, on crutches, with the Beit Halochem Jeep Group, or with the help of some other technical means. I will not let my injury restrict me.

"Also Beit Halochem’s scholarship fund will enable me to study physics or medicine, be a scientist or a doctor. I want to get married and have children, lots of children. I want the house to be full of noise.

"My regiment suffered many casualties. The visions of my friends’ bodies being evacuated from Bint Jebeil cross my mind all the time. I am lucky that I got my life back … I am lucky that I have Beit Halochem where I know that people care about me and want to help me get better.