INBOX: How’s This for a “Father’s Day” Miracle Story

Yesterday, on Shabbos afternoon, a young man in our community got up to speak at the farbrengen he sponsored to mark the birth of his daughter. 

His name is Avraham Elkabets.

A short while ago, he and his wife were bentched w a baby girl.

A short moment after his daughter was born, the machines monitoring her heart rate began making a lot of noise.

Something was majorly not right!

Within a minute, doctors flooded into the small room from all over the hospital.

“CODE PINK”

may we never EVER need to hear this term again, but a “CODE Pink” is what it’s known as when there is R”L a ‘Pediatric case of cardiac arrest’

His baby wasn’t responding.

Nor was she breathing.

Doctors immediately transferred her over to another room to deal w such situations. 

She went went from pink, to white, to turning blue.

The doctors he spoke with told him they don’t know if she will be alright. He’d have to wait.

Being first-time father, his heart was racing. his lips reciting Tehillim. 

Chapters 1, 20, 121, and 130.

at the same time, his mind was infused w all sorts of thoughts.

Being a chossid of the Rebbe, he immediately would focus his attention on a sicha he learned from the Rebbe:

“VaYeera Moshe”

All about trusting in Hashem, and how to ensure a positive outcome simply by thinking good

Tracht Gut Vet Zain Gut !

15 minutes go by

30 mins go by.

No response

1 hour goes by.

After no report from any doctor,

R’ Avraham saw a moment when he was able to go into the room with his daughter.

He remembered the Chabad custom to say the “12 pesukim” asap with a newborn baby.

Placing his hand on his baby’s foot — Avraham began saying the 12 psukim.

Now up until this point, her lungs, filled with stool – prevented her from breathing. 

Tubes were inserted to drain, tubes were inserted to pump oxygen in — nothing helped.  

When he began saying the 12th pasuk “Yismach Yisroel”, one of the doctors told him: idk what you’re doing, but whatever it is, keep doing it. It’s working!”

For the first time since she was born, his baby began showing signs of trying to breathe by herself.

He said the 12 psukim again and again.

Before you know it, the first signs of crying emerged. It wasn’t a full cry – but what a moment! What a NES! 

48 hours after her birth, they were released to go home. Doctors Boruch Hashem report that there were no signs of neurological damage. Remember, the baby did not receive oxygen for over a minute.

The Rebbe gifted us with the knowledge of the most powerful weapon the Jewish children possess: the 12 psukim.

By divine providence, my Rabbi and his wife, Rabbi Shmuel Zirkind released an album – children singing only – of thr 12 psukim, and powerful one-liners in the lyrics which encapsulate the true meaning and message of each posuk.

You can find it on spotify.

Let’s sing the 12 psukim!