A two-year-old boy underwent surgery after he accidentally received an eye injury while playing with a lulav. The incident occurred while the child was playing with his twin brother in a sukkah.
Initially, it seemed that the injury wasn’t severe or long-lasting. However, the following morning, the toddler woke up with a red eye, causing concern for his parents. They promptly reached out to an eye specialist associated with their health insurance provider, who wasted no time in referring them to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center.
The medical team at the center performed surgery to remove a foreign object – ostensibly part of the lulav – lodged in the child’s cornea. After a brief hospital stay, the boy was discharged and sent home.
In a statement, the child’s parents expressed their gratitude that their son had recovered safely but emphasized the importance of parental vigilance, particularly during Yom Tov, when distractions are abundant. They encouraged other parents to remain attentive to their children’s activities, even seemingly harmless ones, as accidents can happen unexpectedly.
Professor David Zadok, who conducted the surgery, explained that “the foreign object from the lulav had embedded itself in the child’s cornea.” He stressed the importance of “parents being vigilant, especially when children are outdoors, where small particles such as leaves can enter the eye and pose a risk to vision.” He highlighted the fact that “young children may not be able to communicate eye injuries effectively, underscoring the need for heightened caution on the part of parents.”
{Matzav.com Israel}