"The Doctors Were Pessimistic, But I Believed I'd Get Through This": The Bride Who Became Paralyzed in a Haunting Interview

A wedding is always a moving event, and the moment of the chuppah is the peak of excitement. But at the wedding of Amit and Dor Shapira, held about a month ago, everyone felt an extraordinary emotion.

The fact that Dor stood under the chuppah, on her own feet, able even to dance and move, was far from self-evident. Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Steve Jackson, who officiated under the chuppah, witnessed this firsthand, having also accompanied Dor as a surgeon at Beilinson Hospital.

"When you break a glass, you shatter it into fragments, and the question is, what do you do when this dream shatters?" he said moments before the breaking of the glass. "Do we throw up our hands and cry over our fate, decide to give up, or choose to move forward and fight?" In saying so, he alluded to Dor's miraculous story and her unimaginable struggle for life.

Pain That Turns to Paralysis

"It all started a little over a year ago," Dor shares. "I was living in Haifa and working in the center. I was about to move homes and had just started a new project at work. My daily schedule was packed, and when I began experiencing severe back pain one day, I assumed it was due to the workload and tasks. I never imagined that what happened to one in a million— and the worst possible outcome— was about to happen to me."

Initially, Dor tried to continue packing for the move, but at some point she realized she could not go on. She wanted to take a shower but needed assistance for even this simple activity. "When I stepped into the shower, the pain intensified, and I felt I couldn't bear the stream of water on my back. The pain was extremely severe," she explains. "At this point, I contacted my older sister, with whom I share everything that happens in my life. My sister lives in Afula, and she suggested I come to sleep at her place and go to a chiropractor the following day to treat the back pain. It seemed like a good idea, but when I tried to get into the car and saw I couldn't lift my right leg, which had become paralyzed, I realized I wasn't driving to my sister but straight to the emergency room."

Initially, Dor went to a hospital in the north where her mother and sister awaited her with a wheelchair—something she desperately needed as her right leg was failing her. "It was Thursday night, and I spent the entire weekend in the hospital," she recalls. "The situation, though, instead of improving, only worsened, and I found myself entirely paralyzed from the waist down."

At this stage, did you realize it was something serious?

"It might sound strange, but until about six months after what had happened, I didn't completely comprehend what had occurred. I remember everything that happened, but the realization of the depth and danger I was in arrived much later. Perhaps it's a good thing, because, during those days, I wasn't thinking about anything but fighting for myself and my health."

"Doctor, I Will Walk Again"

At this point, Dor and her family decided to transfer her to Beilinson Hospital, where Dr. Shlomo Steve Jackson, a senior physician in the neurosurgery and spine department, came into the picture. "I first heard about Dor on Sunday morning when I received a phone call from the northern hospital where she was admitted, informing me they wanted to transfer her," he recounts. "I requested images of the tests to be sent to me, and upon reviewing them, I told them: 'Don't transfer the patient; instead, take her urgently to the operating room because every second is critical.' I also personally spoke with Dor and informed her that the best thing she could do in her situation was to go into surgery. But she was determined, requesting to transfer to us at Beilinson. Of course, we prepared for her arrival, and as soon as she reached the hospital, I examined her and told her that we were going to operate and do everything possible to save her ability to walk, but the chances of success were very slim."

Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Steve Jackson

Why? What exactly happened to her?

"Dor had a very large herniated disc in the lumbar spine. This caused pressure on the nerves and among other things, it affected the lower limbs. The deterioration was very rapid, leading Dor to go from being in good health to experiencing severe back pain and weakness to the point of paralysis within a few hours."

Dr. Jackson wants to clarify an important point: "This is a rare and extreme case, but it's important to know that if someone has similar symptoms— back pain that radiates to the legs, resulting in severe weakness and numbness from the pelvis down— this must be a red flag, and it's crucial to get to the hospital quickly. Sometimes we encounter patients who come to us too late, after waiting at home thinking the symptoms would pass, but they don't, the pressure only increases, sometimes leading to irreversible conditions. We all know that when a small warning light comes on in the car, we rush to the mechanic, and if something on our iPhone doesn't work, we hurry to fix it the same day. Our bodies should be treated no differently; neglect is not an option."

Had Dor arrived too late in her situation?

"At first, I thought she had missed the train," he candidly replies. "Of course, I made sure she was taken to the operating room as quickly as possible, but in my heart, I knew the chances were not great. On our way to the operating room, I clarified her situation to her, yet I promised we would do everything to help her. Dor was very calm, and with a half-smile, she told me, 'Don't worry, I will walk again.' During the operation, I found, as I had suspected, a massive herniated disc, and throughout, I kept thinking, 'Poor thing, a young woman who will likely remain paralyzed for life.'

"Even when the surgery was over, I wasn't optimistic. I continued my usual work routine, and from time to time, when I visited Dor, I saw that she was moving her toe a bit, then another toe, and eventually her entire foot. Naturally, I was happy and let her feel my enthusiasm, but deep inside, I knew there was still a long way to full recovery. But Dor insisted time and time again: 'Doctor, you'll see, I'll walk again,' and Amit, who later became her husband, stood by her with unbelievable and truly inspiring support. Later, she was transferred to rehabilitation, but periodically came back for check-ups, and I watched in disbelief. At first, she was with a walker, then with crutches, and suddenly, within months, she was walking on both legs by herself."

The Strength to Fight

"Dr. Jackson was like an angel sent from heaven," Dor says emotionally. "Our family is very devout, and when we met him, the first thing we told him was: 'To us, you are a messenger from Hashem, and we believe you will have the strength to help, and even if things go less well, it's likely for a reason.' With this understanding, we entered the operating room, and I must admit, I noticed Dr. Jackson looked very worried. Before the surgery, I asked him about the success rate, and he replied: 'The only thing I can promise is that your condition will not worsen.'"

Reflecting on the lengthy rehabilitation following the surgery, Dor shares: "Six days after the surgery, the head of the neurosurgical department informed me that he believed I could walk, but only if I underwent four months of in-hospital rehabilitation. This was not something I had planned; I had so many other plans, but I closed my eyes and saw only one thing: my life's mission— to stand on my feet and be healthy. I ignored everything beyond this goal and did not pause to ponder why it happened to me or how I came to be in such a situation. I truly believed it was my test, and it was up to me to face it

Others might have sunk into depression. What gave you the strength to fight?

"First and foremost, it was a strong faith. I genuinely believed in God; I knew that only He could grant me full health and restore my ability to walk as before. Each day, I prayed and asked God for what I wanted - to stand on my feet. During this period, my husband Amit proposed to me, and throughout the rehabilitation, I envisioned myself dancing at the wedding. That is where I aimed; I refused to consider any other possibility. I must also commend Amit, who accompanied me throughout with indescribable devotion, constantly supporting and believing alongside me. Without him, not only would I not have taken any step, but I wouldn't even be standing on my feet. We both knew I would pull through, and so after hospitalization at Beilinson, I was transferred for rehabilitation at Emek Medical Center, where I was hospitalized for three months."

Always Believe

About a month ago, Amit and Dor stood under the chuppah as their wedding guests awaited a great surprise: the rabbi who officiated was none other than Dr. Jackson, who, in addition to his medical practice, is also a mohel and officiant.

"We have immense gratitude towards Dr. Jackson," Dor explains. "He met us after four very traumatic days when we were in the lowest place we could have been— at rock bottom. These were very tough moments, and he was so humane, offering support and direction every step of the way. Every time I was with Amit, he noted how he viewed us from his perspective, and Amit and I always felt he was accurately describing how we saw our relationship. That's why we decided he would officiate at our wedding, and indeed, we had an incredibly moving chuppah."

(Wedding Photos: Yahav Shariki)

"I think there's an amazing story here of willpower and great faith," Dr. Jackson adds. "Even I, as a doctor, was personally strengthened and learned that it's forbidden to despair in any situation— there is always a chance and hope. Watching Dor walk to the chuppah on her own, without any assistance, I couldn't hold back the tears. Dor and Amit went through one of the toughest crises a couple can endure and came through it grandly. They illustrated to everyone the power of true partnership, not only when everything is good and flowing but also in times of trials and challenges."