Against All Odds - Sara Jacobovici - Israel

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago · 2 min. reading time · ~10 ·

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Against All Odds

My mother, Ida Jacobovici (of blessed memory), passed away on August 17th at the age of 97. She was too young to die.

I am grateful to be able to say that my mother lived a full life to her last breath. But that was the only way she knew how to live.

At many points in her life, she faced situations in which the odds were against her.

To briefly highlight a few, she survived the Holocaust, an anaphylactic shock to Penicillin, and a couple of car accidents. When she would go for pain treatment for her back, if the medical professionals looked only at her x-rays (of her spine) and age (late 60's at that time), they would say, “There is nothing to be done. Odds are she will end up in a wheel chair.”

Three months before her 90th birthday, my mother climbed up Masada’s “snake path” for the second time in two years, inspiring every one along the way; up and down.

Photo credit for Masada: Picssr

At the age of 94, not long after falling and needing surgery for a fractured hip, my mother participated in our town’s day of a 10k and 3k run or walk. She walked the 3k. Every step along the way, people would call out to her and encourage her on. One woman asked to take a picture with her. She repeated this the following year and then, the third year, was disappointed that she could only do 1k.

I’ll never forget, when I took her to a follow-up appointment to her gastroenterologist expecting to get some idea of how to help her cope with her challenges, how he said, “She’s turning 80, odds are things will start going downhill.” My mom and I celebrated New Year’s Eve meal, 2015, at a restaurant with a bottle of champagne. The owner and servers were so inspired by her energy that they asked to take pictures of them toasting the new year with her.

My mother was a constant source of inspiration to me, a woman who was full of life, who possessed strong beliefs and was a loving human being; woman, daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother.

My mother was my first and best teacher. When life circumstances influenced her choice of career, she adapted. She had always wanted to be a doctor but when that was not an option, she became a biochemist in a hospital setting. When, against all odds, my mother became the head of her biochemistry lab in a major hospital in Montreal, Canada, she became my first business coach. She modeled for me that once we are committed to a job, we take that commitment on responsibly and passionately.

She treated the requisitions of patients she received not as pieces of paper but as individual human beings. She sought to provide the doctors with the most accurate information from which they could form the best diagnosis and treatment. She would take pictures of unique crystals she saw in the microscope. She trained college students and medical staff. She loved what she did and she strove to be the best at what she did.

My father (of blessed memory) was a natural storyteller. He was able to capture people’s attention and move them into the stories he weaved. My mother didn’t come to storytelling naturally. She would reminisce out loud; she would remember something important or meaningful in her life and recount it. Both storytellers, however, were “telling” the same story; the story of survival; how individuals through oppressive and dangerous times, did what they needed to do to overcome and continue to exist.

Photo taken March, 2017.

My mother passed on a legacy to me to not only do everything possible to live, but most importantly, how to live. To honor her, I will continue to live my life to its fullest.

"""""

#Ida Jacobovici #Masada #August #Holocaust #Odds

Comments

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #42

#86
Thank you so much Jordan Sands.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #41

#85
I am deeply touched by your message Susan \ud83d\udc1d Rooks, the Grammar Goddess. Thank you.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #40

Thank you so much saima khan for your share.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #39

#82
Your heartfelt message is very much appreciated Deb\ud83d\udc1d Lange, Brand Ambassador @beBee. I look forward to reconnecting!

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #38

#80
Thank you Carol Caldwell-Edmonds! You are a dear friend. Great to see you on beBee. Get your profile going so I can introduce you and get you to experience a real beBee welcome!

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #37

Dear , you kind and heartfelt message is much appreciated.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #36

#76
Thank you so much Graham\ud83d\udc1d Edwards!

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #35

#70
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings Jan \ud83d\udc1d Barbosa. I hope you don't have to go through this for a very long time!

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #34

#69
Thank you very much Dave Rynne!

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #33

#68
Dear Harvey Lloyd, thank you so much for your kind and very generous comment. As always, much appreciated.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #32

#67
Dear , what a wonderful message! Thank you. I am receiving and taking in your positive energy and kindness.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #31

#54
I am deeply moved by your comment Lada \ud83c\udfe1 Prkic and very grateful for our connection.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #30

#53
Dear Lisa \ud83d\udc1d Gallagher, I can feel the hugs! Thank you so much for your heartfelt words.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #29

#52
Thank you Moi Kliniger. I appreciate your warmhearted message very much.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #28

#51
Thank you so much Franci\ud83d\udc1dEugenia Hoffman, beBee Brand Ambassador. I can imagine our mother's spirits enjoying their daughters' connection.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #27

#50
Gracias por sus amables palabras, @Ignacio Orna.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #26

#49
You're the best Cyndi wilkins! Thanks.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #25

#48
Dear , I am so moved by your comment and your sharing the post with others. I am grateful for our connection.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #24

#47
Thank you so much @Mohammed A. Jawad.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #23

#46
So grateful for your kind and generous message Deborah Levine. Good to hear from you. Looking forward to reconnecting.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #22

#43
Dear Vincenzo De Florio, your comment has moved me very much. I am grateful for our connection and I hope our paths cross one day.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #21

#42
Dear . Your very touching response and sharing is deeply appreciated. Thank you so much!

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #20

#37
Thank you Lance \ud83d\udc1d Scoular for your warm message and for sharing. Much appreciated.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #19

#27
Thank you so much Phil Friedman. Your kind and generous words are very much appreciated.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #18

#26
Thank you dear Deb \ud83d\udc1d Helfrich. Your message touches me very much.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #17

#25
Thank you so much Paul \, for your kind message and for bringing a smile to my face!

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #16

#23
Thank you so much Gert Scholtz for your heartfelt message. And thanks for being there for me.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #15

#22
Thank you dear Cyndi wilkins. I can feel the loving energy across the waters!

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #14

#21
#24 Thank you so much for your reading, commenting and sharing Debasish Majumder. Your heartfelt message is very much appreciated.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #13

#20
Thank you so much Ian Weinberg.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #12

#19
Thank you dear Ren\u00e9e \ud83d\udc1d Cormier, from heart to heart.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #11

#18
Dear Ken Boddie, your posts and comments always make me smile and laugh. I find myself in the strange position of thanking you Ken, for a message that made me cry.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #10

#17
Thank you dear Savvy Raj. Your warmhearted message is very much appreciated.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #9

#16
Thank you very much @Luis Piriz!

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #8

#15
Thank you so much Martin Wright.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #7

#13
Thank you Sandra Smith.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #6

#11
Thank you Laurent Boscherini for your very kind message.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #5

#5
Thanks Lyon Brave.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #4

#4
Thank you Ali \ud83d\udc1d Anani, Brand Ambassador @beBee. I am moved by your response.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #3

#3
Thank you @Devesh Bhatt.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #2

#2
Thank you Javier 🐝 beBee for taking the time to read, respond and share. Much appreciated.

Sara Jacobovici

6 years ago #1

#1
Thank you Pascal Derrien.

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6 years ago · 1 min. reading time

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