I have often been in situations where children were between life and death

An entire country was on its feet while 4-year-old Yuval Kogan disappeared while spending time at the beach in Ashkelon. For many hours he survived alone in the field, until by great luck he was found safe and sound.

Yuval’s mother, Dr. Dina Kogan, is a pediatrician in the southern district of Kopah Klalit. During the search, she managed the stressful event, interviewed the media and worked around the clock in every way to find him. In a conversation with Mako Health, she talks about the dramatic moments, the need to stay in control and her work that contributed to dealing with the difficult situation.

When we called her, she was just busy returning to dozens of messages of encouragement that she continues to receive from the general public – she answers each of the applicants personally. “It’s just unimaginable,” she says. “We published my number so that people could help with the search, but I never imagined that I would continue to receive so many calls and support even when Yuval returned. Now a woman who had a heart attack called me and told me that I strengthened her. It really moves me.”

I used to work in intensive care in the emergency department, it’s a job that requires calmness and maintaining focus. Every decision required concentration and stability, for example I could accept a convulsing child even after 27 hours of shift without sleep, and I still had to remain focused and decisive

how do you feel

“We are still trying to digest the situation. Yuval feels good, he is already back in kindergarten and is behaving normally. He receives a lot of love and a lot of gifts from acquaintances and also from many people we don’t know – secular, religious, people from all over the country. We are surrounded by love and I am very grateful for that.”

It’s really incomprehensible – the composure you showed during the search. Did the fact that you are a pediatrician contribute to this?

“As a pediatrician in my specialty, I have often been in situations where children were between life and death – there is no doubt that this strengthened me. I previously worked in intensive care in the emergency room, it is a job that requires calmness and maintaining focus. Every decision required concentration and stability, for example I could accept a convulsing child even after 27 hours of sleepless shifts, and I still had to remain focused and decisive. Even when Yuval disappeared I realized that I had to stay focused because I felt that my child in danger of life”.

Life itself, she says, also taught her a thing or two about strength. “I lost my father when I was eight months pregnant with my daughter. I think that besides the great difficulty and pain, things like this build your personality and strengthen you.”

I was in survival ‘mode’ and could not allow distractions or worries on the part of the girls, in such situations we are the children’s model and I knew I had to be strong

What do you say to Yuval’s sisters in such a situation?

“I had to keep them as calm and safe as possible, so I left them with two amazing friends that I trust. I called from time to time to inform them that the incident was under control, and I gave them positivity, and also the knowledge that he would return home. I was in survival ‘mode’ and could not allow distractions or worries on their part, in such situations we are the children’s model and I knew I had to be strong.”

How does a 4-year-old survive 27 hours in this heat outside the house alone and without water?

“Yuval is a strong child in body and mind, very smart and playful. But he is braver far beyond what we thought. In my opinion, there were several other things that helped this – first, he had a hat and I also always make sure to apply sunscreen to the children, so in this respect he was relatively protected from the sun. In addition, he wore a light-colored shirt that absorbs less heat. Of course, there was also great luck here – Nathaniel Biton and Noam Shamchi who found him are dear people, and we will forever be grateful to them. They are messengers of God and his ways are hidden.”

Did he undergo medical tests or was he spared because he has a doctor mother?

“In general, it’s important to go to the emergency room when a situation like this happens, but I didn’t take him for blood tests or a fluid test because I saw that he was recovering well. He drank a lot and ate a lot of popsicles. I diagnosed him as a child suffering from mild dehydration, but fortunately I spared him a visit to the emergency room and all the noise around, because I saw that he was recovering and completing what was needed.”

Dina is preparing to return to her job as a doctor this coming Sunday, and the family will be back to normal soon. “Yuval’s courage and resourcefulness helped him survive alone in the field, but I have no doubt that the prayers of all the people of Israel also contributed to this. Perhaps he is the messenger chosen to unite us all and teach us how strong we are when we are together,” she says. “We are still putting the pieces together little by little, but I guess the whole part will never be put together. It is definitely a shocking event.”

A message for parents to finish?

“It’s important to understand that a situation like this could happen to any parent, especially now during the summer. You have to look after the children and not lose eye contact with them – not even for a minute.”