A heartbreaking tragedy struck the chareidi community in Yerushalayim on Wednesday with the passing of 3-year-old Yael Rivka Betzalel a”h, who succumbed after battling for her life for two weeks following a choking incident at her family’s home in Ramot.
Yael Rivka choked while eating a grape approximately two weeks ago. Emergency medical personnel, including paramedics and EMTs from United Hatzalah and Magen David Adom, rushed to the family’s home and immediately began prolonged, advanced resuscitation efforts.
During the lifesaving attempts, a paramedic succeeded in removing the grape that had become lodged in the young girl’s airway.
Yael Rivka was subsequently rushed to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in extremely serious condition while resuscitation efforts continued. She was sedated and placed on a ventilator as doctors fought to save her life.
For the next two weeks, physicians in the intensive care unit battled for the life of the young girl, the daughter of Yitzchak and Chana Betzalel. Family members and members of the broader community davened fervently for her recovery.
Tragically, her condition deteriorated Wednesday and doctors were ultimately forced to pronounce her passing.
The devastating loss comes at an especially painful time for the Betzalel family, just one week before the scheduled wedding of Yael Rivka’s older sister.
Instead of preparing to accompany their daughter to her chuppah amid celebration and joy, the family was forced to accompany their 3-year-old daughter and sister to her final resting place.
The levayah departed from the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and proceeded to Har Hamenuchos, where Yael Rivka was laid to rest in the Yemenite section.
Yehi zichrah baruch.
{Matzav.com}
