A Walking Legend
Just prior to her discharge from ALYN, twelve year old Zena, walking independently, following a long process of rehabilitation, performed the story of "Little Red Riding Hood" in front of an audience of ALYN patients and staff!
Twelve year old Zena was admitted to ALYN a year ago, unconscious and dependent on a ventilator, as a result of complications from cancer. She began a long process of rehabilitation . Gradually she learnt to breathe again without the aid of a ventilator and she relearnt how to eat, become mobile and eventually to walk.
In addition to the intensive multidisciplinary therapies which she received including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, hydrotherapy and computer technology therapy, Zena received emotional support from ALYN's social workers and psychologists who supported her and her family during their entire rehabilitation process.
Zena captured the hearts of the ALYN staff who were captivated by her joy of life and her strong will to succeed in her rehabilitation in order to return to her home and community as quickly as possible.
Building on Zena's great sense of humor, on her natural curiosity and her love of artistic expression, a personalized program of self-empowerment was created for her by ALYN's psycho-social services staff, the educational staff and the medical clowns. During the last few weeks of her hospitalization she worked hard to create and perform a play in the form of a puppet theater which she built with Yael, ALYN's art therapist. Zena then adapted the story "Little Red Riding Hood" and wrote a play in both Arabic and Hebrew with Solina, one of ALYN's special education teachers. Finally she performed the play in front of dozens of ALYN patients, staff and her family who could not contain their excitement!
Zena, with great confidence, gave an impressive performance together with Noam Rubinstein, one of ALYN's medical clowns, who also acted, entertained and accompanied Zena on the piano!
Ruth Palmor, Director of ALYN's Psycho-social Services commented on the production: "It is our great privilege to be part of the process whereby we see that there is not only an impressive physical improvement in the patient but we see that there is an improvement in the way they express themselves, in the way they cope with their emotions, in the way they succeed in overcoming fear and pain and finally in their ability to show creativity, spontaneity and joy!"
