Wheels of Love 2023

ALYN Hospital – Israel’s ONLY facility specializing in pediatric rehabilitation – treats thousands of children with physical disabilities and helps them reach their maximum potential through intensive, active rehabilitation.

Only a portion of the total cost of each child’s care is reimbursed by the Israeli Health Funds or other referring agencies. For bridging the balance of the remaining “gap,” ALYN must rely on donations from our friends and supporters around the globe.

The funds raised through Wheels of Love help cover the costs needed to treat children at ALYN Hospital.

Below, you can read about some of the children treated at ALYN

Lior was a healthy, active girl, who, in ninth grade, began experiencing pain that gradually increased and became debilitating. One year later, she woke up unable to move her legs at all. Lior was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. She was treated at ALYN Hospital, first as a day-patient, then as a full-time inpatient with an intensive framework of rehabilitation.

“I was afraid that they would tell me, ‘enough, you cannot improve anymore,’ but at ALYN, they didn’t give up on me … they promised to be with me and be there for me until I could stand on my own two feet. I succeeded in standing, and then in walking with two crutches, then one crutch, and then I was able to walk without crutches at all. I left the Hospital on my own two feet … I called it the ‘ALYN Syndrome.’ It causes the brain to believe in its own abilities!”

Read the full story here

Yassin was born with a blockage prevented airflow between his lungs and his nose and mouth depriving him of sufficient oxygen. Following multiple surgeries, his medical team decided that a tracheostomy would be Yassin’s best option. At 6 weeks old, Yassin was admitted to ALYN Hospital for respiratory rehabilitation treatment, with the main goal of giving Yassin and his family the skills and tools for him to live at home and play with other children his age, while managing the tracheostomy.

Yassin is now 12 years old, and he has the tools he needs to manage his condition. No one knows what the future holds for sure, but the tracheostomy certainly is not significantly limiting Yassin from having a normal childhood. Yassin enjoys playing ball and marble games with his neighborhood friends. He loves cars and hopes to own a car dealership when he grows up. Although his father is encouraging him to become a doctor or an engineer!

Emunah was brought into intensive care after she began experiencing pain in her foot that transformed into paralysis. She was brought to a general hospital, where she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome and was brought, intubated and on a ventilator, to the PICU. Following her treatment in hospital, Emunah was brought to ALYN’s Respiratory Rehabilitation Department, eventually “graduating” to General Rehabilitation. Finally, skipping down the hallways of ALYN, Emunah was released and sent home to her family following the completion of her rehabilitation.”

“ALYN is such a special place, full of heart. Families who are here are going through such a difficult time – we have seen the whole process from intensive care until today – and the fact that there are so many smiles and so much love when your child takes the first step – this is a huge part of the rehabilitation process,” Emunah’s mother reflected.

 “ALYN Hospital made a miracle for my son…and not only for my son, but for all children who are treated here!” –Racheli, Yari’s mother

One typical day at school, third grader Yari began feeling really sick, and very quickly became too weak to stand. Fearing the worst, his parents rushed him to a general hospital. Within hours, Yari was undergoing emergency surgery to remove a large tumor from his brain. In a single day, both his entire world, and that of his family’s, was upended.

When Yari arrived at ALYN Hospital, he was unable to speak, eat or move. His multi-disciplinary rehabilitation program was aimed at helping him to re-learn how to accomplish the everyday tasks that most of us take for granted.

Today, one year later, Yari can speak, eat and is making progress toward walking with the aid of a walker. He is back at home with his family, splitting his week between going to school and continuing his rehabilitation at ALYN, getting stronger every day – and he will even be joining The Swift and The Bold on a tandem bicycle during the 2023 Wheels of Love ride!