May Caspi from Kibbutz Kerem Shalom on October 7 | Kan 7.10.360

A Red Alert siren jolts May Caspi awake in her apartment in the youth neighborhood of Kibbutz Kerem Shalom. She moved in just a month earlier, after completing her military service as a lead medic in the Gaza Division’s intensive care unit. As the sirens continue, she considers running to her parents’ safe room, who live 500 meters away in the kibbutz—but decides to stay in her own

Dudi Rabi, a member of the kibbutz' security squad, sends a message to the Kibbutz's medical staff WhatsApp group, which includes May. He reports that a Nahal Brigade soldier has been wounded at the Peretz-Haimovich residence and calls for medics to assist. May responds that she has all the necessary equipment and asks if she’s cleared to go. Another kibbutz member, Roni Kissin, adds that she and her husband Ofer—both United Hatzalah volunteers—are also fully equipped, but notes that United Hatzalah has not yet authorized anyone to leave their homes. Dudi says he’ll check, and May swiftly packs a first aid kit, awaiting further instructions

Terrorists storm the Schindler family home, placing an explosive device on the safe room door that critically injures the father, Amichai. Roni Kissin alerts the medical team’s WhatsApp group. Unaware that terrorists are roaming the kibbutz, May Caspi leaves her apartment in pajamas and flip-flops, mistakenly heading to the Schindlers’ former home on the opposite side of the community. She calls Roni Kissin to locate the wounded, only to be told she’s in the wrong place—and warned to hide immediately, as armed terrorists are in the area. At that moment, May spots two terrorists and ducks behind a wall. Once they pass, she begins moving cautiously from house to house, with Roni Kissin still on the line, until she reaches the home of fellow kibbutz members Racheli and Sagi Nardia, who quickly let her in

Gunfire erupts at the Schindler home as members of the kibbutz security squad engage in a firefight with the terrorists, prompting an urgent call for medical reinforcements. Deputy Ravshatz (Military Ongoing Security Coordinator), Eli Ben Dor, arrives to collect May Caspi from the Nardia residence. In his vehicle lies Amichai Witzen, a critically wounded member of the security squad. May and Eli agree he must be treated immediately and set up an improvised medical station in the Nardias’ living room. May reaches out to former army colleagues for guidance and even contacts her former commander, trying to arrange an air evacuation from the kibbutz. After doing all she can, she informs the chief: “I’m not authorized to declare death, but he’s not breathing and has no pulse.”

Deputy Ravshatz Eli Ben Dor arrives in the kibbutz armored vehicle to pick up May, taking her to the kibbutz office, where the security squad has set up an improvised command center. There, May begins treating Yair Wiesner, a fellow squad member wounded earlier by an RPG. The medical team at the scene includes May Caspi, Roni and Ofer Kissin, visiting physician Dr. Barak Karavani, and security squad member Dudi Rabi

A unit of roughly 50 soldiers from the Kfir Brigade’s squad commanders’ course joins the fighting in Kerem Shalom. About thirty minutes later, at 2:30 p.m., the unit commander dispatches three medics to the kibbutz office. May instructs them to unload all their medical gear and uses it to re-dress Yair Wiesner’s wounds, in an attempt to stem his bleeding

Several soldiers arrive at the kibbutz office with their teammate, Natan Chai Liar, who was wounded by shrapnel from a rocket that struck the kibbutz. May quickly bandages his wounds and performs CPR for half an hour in a desperate attempt to save him. Ultimately, a doctor is forced to pronounce Natan’s death

May and the rest of the medical team evacuate Yair Wiesner, Amichai Schindler, and Natan Chai Liar to the nearby community of Naveh, where an improvised field hospital has been established. With terrorists still inside the kibbutz, May stays behind at the community's secretariat. Sagi, a friend from her military service with whom she had earlier consulted about treating the wounded, checks in to ask how she’s holding up. “I’ll deal with the trauma later,” May replies. “Everyone who died are people I know.”

May joins the team assigned to deliver the heartbreaking news to the Raziel family about the death of their father, Yedidya. Afterward, she heads to a friend’s house in the kibbutz, trying to unwind after hours of treating the wounded. At 10:30 p.m., a military vehicle arrives to take her to her parents’ home, where she reunites with her mother, Sharon, and her brother, Stav. The three spend the night together in the safe room.