Last update - 03:06 11/02/2008
Sderot brothers hit by rocket in serious but stable condition
By Yuval Azoulay
The Twito brothers, Osher and Rami, from Sderot, were transferred yesterday from Barzilai hospital in Ashkelon to Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, because of the seriousness of the injuries they sustained Saturday night when a Qassam rocket exploded next to them. Doctors describe both now as being in stable condition.
Eight year old Osher had his left leg amputated yesterday, and today he is expected to undergo another operation in an effort to save his right leg. He is kept unconscious and with assisted breathing because of the pain.
Rami, 19, suffered breaks and fragment injuries to both his legs. He is also expected to undergo a number of operations in the coming days.
According to the chief of trauma at Sheba hospital, Dr. Daniel Simon, it is still early to know if it will be possible to save Osher's right leg.
"The two brothers came to us in stable condition. Osher has a long and complex road to recovery. The two will require a long rehabilitation period," Simon said.
Accompanying their sons to Tel Hashomer were their parents, Iris and Rafi.
"There is always hope," Iris said. "We just want Osher to be awake so that we can talk to him," she added, her eyes bleary from having been unable to sleep.
Osher is the youngest of the couple's five children. He was very close to Rami, and on Saturday evening insisted on joining him and his girlfriend, Kinneret Shlomo, to the cash machine, where they intended to withdraw money to celebrate Rafi's birthday - which was yesterday.
"They went together, and crossed the street," Kinneret said yesterday, recalling the moment of horror. "I waited for them on the other side. Then the alarm was heard and immediately there was a blast. There was no time to look for cover. I saw the smoke and there were screams. I thought, that's it, everything is finished."
She says that Rami never believed that he would fall victim to a Qassam. "After so many years under fire, you become complacent," she added.