They say never meet your heroes, but in the case of Elisha Medan, his story touches everyone he meets. Last month, charity Beit Halochem brought wounded veterans to London for a week of entertainment, to lift their spirits and meet the UK community.
Wheelchair-bound with both legs missing, it’s impossible to ignore Elisha’s stumps, often placing his hands underneath them, you would think out of nervousness or to warm his hands. But as Elisha explains: “I hold my stumps because I have phantom leg pains. I move them to tell my brain, ‘it ends here’.”
With tanned skin and a boyish grin, Elisha belies his 45 years, an observant Jewish father to six children: 17, 15, 13, 11, 8 and 4. Describing life in Israel he says, “I’ve been married to my amazing wife for 18 years – a strong Israeli woman. I did 19 years duty and was always called for reserve duty. I was a navigator – always the first, so you need good sense of direction, learn the maps, walk the mountains. Everyone is carrying heavy stuff, relying on you for the best route.”