End of one week in Raanana, Israel

Ilan has spent one week in Raanana. The picture shown was taken on the grounds of the Beit Loewenstein Hospital, Raanana.

Ilan started assessments at Beit Loewenstein on Sunday 3/20 which continued through Monday. He receives speech, occupational and physical therapies daily; he will also begin individual and group (psychological) counseling and pool therapy starting next week. In addition, he will also take courses in ceramics and gardening.

The therapists, who are taking Ilan's improvement seriously during his stay with them, are very detailed in their dealings with Ilan and do not miss a single detail, asking very pointed questions that relate to Ilan's therapy. The exercises that they already have him doing are quite intense and advanced (very specific to Ilan's needs) and require Ilan's full concentration, which Ilan has eagerly provided. With Ilan's characteristic flair, he cheers on the other patients in the room on their accomplishments!

Ilan's days (Sun-Thurs) start very early with his first session beginning at 8:15am - he wakes at 7:00am which was impossible to do when he was in Los Angeles - and lasting till 1:30pm with a few breaks in between. Once he gets used to this routine, additional workout sessions will be added to his schedule. Currently, at the end of his daily therapy sessions, Ilan is quite tired and requires a nap.

The cousins that he stays with (2 bus stops from the hospital) are most kind and give him daily rides to and from the hospital. Ilan did get to take the bus one morning and he liked the experience.

Ilan will go tonight to a 2nd wedding this week in Zichron Yaakov and spend Friday and Saturday with other family in Yafo.