Ayala Shapira Thanks Public for Prayers

Ayala Shapira, an 11-year-old who was badly wounded by a Molotov cocktail thrown by terrorists at the family car near Maaleh Shomron last month, asked on Wednesday that a thank-you letter be distributed to the public on her behalf, Arutz Sheva reports.

“All the people of Israel, I thank you all for praying for me and thinking of me so much,” Ayala wrote.

Since the attack, Ayala has been hospitalized at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, where she is being treated for extensive burns. Ayala said in her letter that the great encouragement and support the people of Israel have shown her “makes me feel special. I have no words to explain how much it moves me.”

Ruth, Ayala’s mother, said that “Ayala is healing slowly and in stages. She suffers pain and takes medicine to ease things. She speaks with lip movements and explains herself very well.

“She asks questions about the medical treatment and shows interest,” Mrs. Shapira said in an interview. “She doesn’t speak about the attack, and we don’t bring it up either. She also smiles to people who come to visit her.”

Ayala’s father, Avner, was also wounded in the attack, though less seriously, and remains hospitalized at Sheba as well.

Speaking about her husband’s condition, Mrs. Shapira said, “Avner’s condition is improving, but until the burn on his back heals he can’t leave there.”

She emphasized that her daughter’s recovery has been meeting the doctors’ most optimistic prognoses.

“She’s doing everything according to the best predictions they give us, and we believe that with G-d’s help it will continue like this and she’ll be out of it soon.”

The public is asked to continue davening for the full recovery of Ayelet bas Rut.

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the January 15th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.