“I was fortunate to meet a team of dedicated professionals that really love their work,” 51-year-old Capt. (res.) George Kahlon, says, as he goes through arduous physical therapy to heal serious leg injuries suffered during Operation Protective Edge.
Shlomi Diaz
Capt. (res.) George Kahlon and Deputy Director of Physiotherapy Services Ofri Brikman
Photo credit: Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot
Capt. (res.) George Kahlon from Rehovot was wounded during Operation Protective Edge and has been in intensive physical therapy treatment since the summer so that he could finally perform the action required for his security system installations job — climb a ladder.
Kahlon, 51, was the oldest Israeli to be wounded during the summer fighting in the Gaza Strip against the Hamas terrorist organization. Kahlon volunteered for reserve duty on the first day of the operation and demanded to be in active combat duty. During a firefight, Kahlon suffered injuries to his meniscus and ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in his right knee, and has since been under continuous care of the physiotherapy team at the Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot.
“I was fortunate to meet a team of dedicated professionals that really love their work,” Kahlon said. “I am self employed in the security system installation field, and as part of my job I have to be able to go up a ladder — something I simply could not do after the injury. Now, after comprehensive treatment, I am getting the tools needed to make it possible,” he said.
Tamar Ben-Shahar runs the Kaplan Medical Center’s physiotherapy ward. Ben-Shahar said the goal of the functional recovery is to allow Kahlon to continue working, volunteering and return to the same level of physical activity. “We are very experienced in treating soldiers with different levels of injuries. The goal is to bring them back to optimal level of physical activity,” she said.
Physiotherapy Services Deputy Director Ofri Brikman said Kahlon is undergoing treatment for pain reduction, strengthening the thigh, knee and ankle muscles, as well as balancing techniques. Kahlon, who celebrated his 51st birthday only a few weeks ago, is already planning on returning to active combat duty in the reserves and his volunteer work at Magen David Adom, which he has done for years. “My motto in life has always been ‘so long as you are physically capable of serving, never quit,’” he said.