June 2025 Newsletter
A NOTE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Every day, I’m reminded that the most meaningful progress often comes in stages.
At 16, Noam’s life changed forever when a fall left him paralyzed. For many months, he faced a long and intense rehabilitation journey at ALYN. Despite the challenges, Noam’s love for sports never wavered. Anything related to sports sparks his passion—and he wasn’t about to give that up.
With determination and alongside our incredible volunteers, Noam proved that when there’s a will, there truly is a way. In April, he showed us all the true meaning of strength and perseverance by participating in the Jerusalem Marathon.
Moments like these are why ALYN exists.
Our children face enormous challenges—some from birth, others following trauma or illness—but they meet them with a resilience that is nothing short of inspiring. What’s even more remarkable is how they lift us, too. Their determination fuels our mission, drives our teams, and reminds us why this work matters so deeply.
As we look ahead, I invite you to take a small step with us. Whether it’s sharing our stories, introducing a friend to ALYN, or joining us for the Wheels of Love ride this November 2–6—your involvement matters. It may seem like a small action, but as Noam has shown us, small steps can lead to incredible things.
Thank you for walking this path with us.
CONGRATULATIONS DR. WALLACE LEHMAN
Dr. Wallace B. Lehman has been inducted into the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America (POSNA) Hall of Fame, highlighting his significant contributions to pediatric orthopedics over several decades.
Known for his intellectual humility and integrity, Dr. Lehman's legacy is celebrated not only for advancing orthopedic care but also for his compassionate impact on patients and families.
CELEBRATING SAJA NASHEF: A BEACON OF HOPE AND COMPASSION
Saja Nashef, a dedicated nurse in ALYN Hospital's Rehabilitation Department, has been honored with the Humanity in Nursing Award from the Shamir School of Nursing. She is celebrated for her leadership, compassion, and ability to prevent burnout while fostering connection within her team.
Her personal experiences and the impact of her work are further highlighted in a video from her speech at the Heels of Love hike.
ALYN AT REHABWEEK 2025: LEADING THE FUTURE OF PEDIATRIC REHABILITATION
RehabWeek 2025 highlighted ALYN Hospital's significant contributions to the field of rehabilitation on a global platform. Dr. Naomi Gefen led a workshop featuring innovations in powered wheelchair training simulators, aimed at enhancing children's independence.
Additionally, PhD candidate Shoshana Steinhart introduced a tool that assesses children's functional abilities using simple home videos, promoting a more family-centered approach to rehabilitation.
ENGAGE IN EMPATHY
We are excited to have Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County students back at ALYN Hospital, presenting new and innovative solutions they created at the request of ALYN Hospital patients through our Engage in Empathy program.
Thank you for your continued support and creativity!
Join our WhatsApp
To help keep everyone updated on what is happening at AFAH and ALYN, we have created a WhatsApp community that will help streamline our efforts to communicate with you.
For those who don’t know, a WhatsApp community is a group that contains several smaller group chats. Our WhatsApp community includes a general announcements group with updates and a monthly newsletter.