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Alyna and a new friend
Born paralyzed from the waist down, Alyna had very few options for her future; then a therapist at Israel's ALYN children's hospital took interest in her case, and offered her a state-of-the-art brace. Heart-warming, yes, but the amazing thing is, Alyna is a rabbit — and she is encouraging and comforting children all around the hospital's rehabilitation facilities.
Found in a local Israeli shelter, 1-year-old Alyna came to ALYN as a three-month-old kit. The hospital has a full-service petting zoo used as a therapeutic tool for patients; staffers knew from the beginning that little Alyna would serve a different purpose.
Friends of ALYN Hospital's executive director Cathy Lanyard says of Alyna, “…she really became part of our animal family."
The brace that Alyna wears — like the paralyzed children at ALYN wear — is a Reciprocating Gait Orthosis (RGO) brace. The brace wraps around the waist and legs and provides walking function for patients as young as 18 months. "By a system of arm movements and balance, it almost makes the wearer feel like they're walking," Lanyard says. "It's not comfortable, though, and most kids are afraid of it." While RGOs are designed for humans, Alyna’s custom brace has the same effect on her when she wears it, allowing her to move forward (though not hop), using her front paws.
Since Alyna's arrival at ALYN children’s hospital, the kids "have been fascinated," says Lanyard. "They can put the brace on the rabbit, and see the difference in movement when she's in or out of it," she explains. "In turn, it takes away their fear, and makes it a lot of fun. Instead of the discomfort, they feel the mobility."
Alyna is the first and – so far - only animal of her kind at ALYN; the other various rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles and birds are able-bodied. Based on their success with this remarkable, loving rabbit, Lanyard says the hospital staff would be open to adopting another paralyzed animal in the future. "It's amazing to watch," she says. "Sometimes just the simplest innovation makes an enormous difference."
ALYN Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Center is an officially registered non-profit facility rehabilitating infants, children and adolescents who are afflicted with a broad range of physical disabilities i.e. children who have been injured in road accidents and terror attacks, children suffering from congenital conditions and children suffering from physical limitations due to various illnesses. Children from all over Israel and the world are treated at ALYN regardless of religion or ethnic origin. The photo of Alyna and the delighted patient is from the Public Relations Department, ALYN Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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