"I took a running start... and ran straight through the fire."
One ordinary afternoon, 15-year-old Moshe Shahar found himself trapped on the balcony of his family home after a scooter battery suddenly exploded.
Within seconds, the balcony was engulfed in flames. Barefoot and standing on scorching hot metal, Moshe realized he had only two choices: jump from the balcony or run through the fire.
"I knew that if I jumped, I'd probably break my legs," he recalls. "So I stepped back as far as I could, took a running start, and ran straight through the flames." He survived, but suffered severe burns over much of his body.
A Long Road to Recovery
Moshe spent two weeks in a medically induced coma, followed by several more weeks in intensive care. Once his condition stabilized, he was transferred to ALYN Hospital, Israel's leading pediatric rehabilitation center.
When he arrived, even the simplest daily activities had become overwhelming. Walking, climbing stairs, holding objects, and getting dressed all required help.
Burn rehabilitation involves far more than healing the skin. Scar tissue can tighten around joints, limiting movement and causing pain. Through intensive physical and occupational therapy, ALYN's multidisciplinary team helped Moshe gradually rebuild his strength, flexibility, and independence. One of his proudest achievements was regaining enough fine motor control to button his own shirt again, something that had once seemed impossible.
Healing Through Innovation
As part of his rehabilitation, Moshe joined ALYN's adaptive archery program, where therapy becomes an enjoyable activity rather than another medical appointment. The program helps children strengthen muscles, improve coordination, and rebuild confidence while working toward personalized rehabilitation goals. "Many of the children don't even realize they're exercising," says physiotherapist Aryeh Friedman. "They're simply having fun while achieving remarkable progress."
For Moshe, each session became another step toward reclaiming his independence.
Looking Forward
Today, Moshe has returned to an active life and continues to grow stronger every day. Looking back, he knows the decision he made in those terrifying seconds saved his life.
"When I first saw my injuries, I wondered if I should have jumped," he says. "But now I understand that running through the flames was the right decision." For his father, the family's journey did not end with survival.
"One of the greatest miracles," he says, "was arriving at ALYN and meeting the people who helped Moshe rebuild his life."
At ALYN, children like Moshe receive far more than rehabilitation. They are given the opportunity to recover, regain their independence, and believe in their future once again.
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