Ido Nehmad Recovery Support: Help Us Support Ido
Ido is defined as the most critically wounded soldier of this war
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Support Ido Nehmad’s Recovery
Ido survived the "unsurvivable." Now, he needs a permanent home to continue his intensive rehabilitation alongside his loving family. Every bit of support helps us build the medical sanctuary Ido needs to keep fighting.
Ido's full story
The Soul of a Musician, the Heart of a Fighter
- Ido Nehmad was born in Israel on July 6, 2003. He also holds American citizenship.
- In his later teenage years, Ido was a counselor in the Israeli Scouts movement for youth on the autism spectrum. He loved music and wrote rap and hip-hop songs. His dream was to become a musician after completing his military service.
- Ido took part in a year of national service with the Ayalim organization, during which he went on a journey to Poland. Until that trip, he had been uncertain about which path to pursue in the military. The journey to Poland clarified things for him—he felt compelled to serve in a combat unit, especially after witnessing the horrors of the Holocaust. He found a reason to choose combat service over the artistic fields he had previously been drawn to.
- Ido enlisted in the army on December 7, 2022, as a combat soldier in the Nahal Brigade in a command-track unit that was scheduled to enter commanders’ course—delayed due to the outbreak of the war.
- When October 7th war broke out, Ido fought for three months in the Gaza Strip with almost no breaks.
- While stationed in northern Gaza, near the Israeli border, just two hours before his unit was to withdraw and return to Israel—where Ido was set to begin commanders’ course—they were providing cover for Sayeret Shaldag (special forces) entering tunnels to eliminate terrorists and locate hostages. While covering a tunnel shaft with Shaldag fighters, Ido was struck in the head by a sniper bullet fired from a high building.
- The bullet struck his head in the gap between the helmet and the vest, shattered his skull, and fragments damaged multiple areas of his brain, especially the brain stem.
Bringing Ido Home: The Fight for a Future Together
- Ido has been fighting for his life for 18 months. Throughout this time, doctors have not given him a chance, and there is no known case similar to his—he is the most severely wounded soldier of the war and the only one to survive a direct gunshot to the head.
- He has undergone 10 head surgeries and dozens of general surgeries in eight different hospitals.
- Currently, Ido is undergoing rehabilitation at Sheba Medical Center (Tel HaShomer) in a dedicated ward for the most critically wounded.
- Ido is still clinically defined as being in a minimally conscious and inconsistent state. Doctors cannot predict whether he will regain any functional ability beyond tracking with his eyes.
- Ido has reached a critical stage in his care. There are no further surgical interventions available, so remaining in the hospital is no longer beneficial. He can receive 24/7 care at home—if we can provide a house equipped like a hospital room, with an additional space for a live-in caregiver to assist us in taking care of Ido. Given the complete uncertainty regarding Ido’s future and recovery potential, we believe the best solution for him and for us is to bring him home to a warm, stable, and loving environment, ending the exhausting journey between hospitals.
- For the past 18 months since the injury, Inbal has barely left his bedside. The family structure is falling apart.
- For the sake of Ido and our family, the right move is to transfer him from hospital care to a family home.
- Both we and the doctors we consulted believe that a home environment will aid in his and our rehabilitation as a family. To make this possible, we are requesting assistance beyond the support we and families like ours receive from the Ministry of Defense and the state.
From the media
Channel 12
Channel 12
"The Mr. Nice Squad," which works to renovate damaged sites.
Instegram
Channel 12
Inbal Nehmad, Ido’s mother, on Galgalatz’s 'A Mother’s Voice' podcast