Paralyzed rabbit eases therapy for hospitalized children

Born paralyzed from the waist down, Alyna had very few choices for future care. But a therapist at Israel's ALYN children's hospital took interest in her case, and offered to help her out with a state-of-the-art brace. The interesting thing is, Alyna is a rabbit — but her situation has inspired children all around the hospital's rehabilitation facilities.

Found in a local Israeli shelter, 1-year-old Alyna came to ALYN when she was just three months old. While ALYN has a full-service petting zoo used as therapeutic tool for patients, staffers knew that little Alyna would probably serve a different purpose in her time at the facility. "The idea of bringing her in started as more folly than anything else," Friends of ALYN Hospital executive director Cathy Lanyard said. "But it turned into a challenge. Then she really became part of our animal family."



The contraption Alyna and the paralyzed children at ALYN wear is an RGO brace, which wraps around the waist and legs. "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." Technically designed for humans, the custom brace has had the same effect on Alyna when she wears it, allowing her to move forward (though not hop) by using her front paws.

Since Alyna's arrival at ALYN, 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." Though Alyna is the only animal of her kind at ALYN — the other various rabbits, guinea pigs, turtles and birds are able-bodied — Lanyard says the hospital staff would be open to adopting another paralyzed animal in the future, based on their success with the lovable rabbit. "It's amazing to watch," she says. "Sometimes just the simplest innovation makes an enormous difference."