With Part of the Knife Still Embedded in His Brain, Niv Nehemia Shares His Miraculous Recovery

"I have no doubt this was a miracle and a divine protection," says Niv Nehemia in an interview he gave to 'Israel Hayom'.

Niv Nehemia (43), deputy manager of a Shufersal branch in Yavne, was critically wounded in a terror attack about two months ago when a terrorist stabbed him in the head, neck, chest, and arm a total of 14 times. During the stabbing, Niv fell several times, but security footage shows him rising with tremendous energy and continuing to fight the attacker. "Because of a back surgery I had in childhood, I was not a soldier in the army and have no background in martial arts. The moment the terrorist attacked me, I didn't even have time to decide what to do. The survival instinct made me act the way I did. I'm a man of faith, and I have no doubt this was a miracle and a divine protection," Nehemia describes his relentless struggle against the terrorist.

Niv was rushed to Kaplan Hospital with extreme blood loss and in stage 4 shock. He had a major vein injury in his neck, a skull fracture, a penetrating chest wound, a broken rib, a cut in the esophagus, and a cut in the nerve of the vocal cords. His blood pressure was low, and his condition deteriorated moment by moment. Doctors began to ventilate him and took him to the operating room. Concurrently, he received 20 units of blood.

The surgery lasted six hours, performed by a large team of doctors. Afterward, Niv was transferred, sedated and ventilated, to the Intensive Care Unit. Only after 48 hours was he out of danger, and doctors began gradually waking him up. "The moment I opened my eyes, after three days, was the happiest of that period. Just before they took me into surgery, I told myself that if I woke up and opened my eyes again, it would be a miracle. When I opened them, I understood that Hashem was with me," Niv says with emotion.

His doctors told him that the rehabilitation process could last a year or more. "I know that my path is still long and filled with ups and downs," Niv says. Deep in his head, near his brain, a splinter of the knife blade, 8 millimeters, is still embedded, which the doctors prefer to leave to avoid additional damage.

The injury to his esophagus caused narrowing, and currently, he can swallow solid food. He also suffers from severe pain in his left leg. "I am waiting for the day I'll get my life back. To wake up in the morning and go to work, read a story to my children, go on trips with them on *Shabbat*ot. Instead, I sit here, barely functioning. I'm not used to being helpless, and this struggle is not easy at all, maybe even harder than dealing with the terrorist's stabs," Nehemia candidly says.

"I know the road is long, but just as I was determined to fight the terrorist, I am determined to regain control of my life," he concludes. "I'm a man of faith, I do not deal with the question of why this happened to me, I just know that I have to move forward. I miss my old life so much, the simple things - waking up in the morning, getting dressed and going to work with pride, returning to the noise and chaos of the children, traveling with them. Just being a functioning father."

Please continue to pray for the complete and speedy recovery of Niv Gil ben Hadassah among the rest of the patients of Israel:

Psalm 6

(1) For the leader; with string music; on the eighth. A psalm of David. (2) Hashem, do not chastise me in Your anger, do not punish me in Your wrath. (3) Have mercy on me, Hashem, for I am spent; heal me, Hashem, for my bones tremble in terror. (4) My whole being is stricken with terror, while You, Hashem—O, how long! (5) Turn, Hashem, rescue me; deliver me as befits Your faithfulness. (6) For there is no praise of You among the dead; in Sheol, who can acclaim You? (7) I am weary with groaning; every night I drench my bed, I melt my couch in tears. (8) My eyes are wasted by vexation, worn out because of all my foes. (9) Leave me alone, all you evildoers, for Hashem heeds the sound of my weeping. (10) Hashem heeds my plea, Hashem accepts my prayer. (11) All my enemies will be frustrated and stricken with terror; they will turn back in an instant, frustrated.

Psalm 20

(1) For the leader. A psalm of David. (2) May Hashem answer you in time of trouble, the name of Jacob's God keep you safe. (3) May He send help to you from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion. (4) May He receive the gifts you offer, may He approve your burnt offerings. (5) Grant your desire, fulfill your every plan. (6) May we shout for joy in your victory, arrayed by Hashem's banner, may Hashem fulfill all your wishes. (7) Now I know that Hashem has delivered His anointed one, answered him from His sacred heights with the mighty victories of His right hand. (8) They call on chariots, they call on horses, but we call on Hashem our God. (9) They collapse and lie fallen, but we rally and gather strength. (10) Hashem, grant victory to the king; answer us when we call.