Update from the Shiba Medical Center on the release of the abductees/spokesperson of the Shiba Medical Center
The entire State of Israel woke up this morning excited to hear the news of the release of the two kidnappers, 60-year-old Fernando Merman and 70-year-old Louis Har, in an operation that had been planned for a long time.
Under incessant fire and with cover from the Air Force, the IDF forces, the Shin Bet and the 13th Fleet rescued the two who were carried by the army forces to the rescue helicopter that was waiting for them.
Along with the great joy, it is clear that the two will need a long rehabilitation from the mental and physical trauma of being held captive for 129 days.
Prof. Itai Pesach, director of Safra Children's Hospital, who was among those responsible for receiving the abductees, said that "This is a terribly emotional morning. They are all right, their medical condition is stable. We still have a way to go with them. Their days there were not in a good environment, but relatively For what we feared, their condition is stable."
At the same time, the relatives of the two said this morning that "it seems that somehow survival and human strength are greater than everything and managed to keep themselves there. They are smiling, have lost a little weight, a little pale from lack of sun. I find it hard to believe that the soul is the same as it was before, there is still time for rehabilitation."
So what kind of rehabilitation is expected for the two adult abductees after their days were spent sitting, without light, without movement and after their diet was meager?
The touching image of the union between the abductees and their family/documentation on social networks according to Article 27 A of the Copyright Law
"It is important to say first and foremost that I do not have medical details about the condition of the two, but there are things that should be in front of our eyes," says Lavala!
Dr. Tsaki Ziv Ner, director of the rehabilitation department at Sheba and former head of the rehabilitation department and currently director of the "Adi Negev - Nachalat Eran" rehabilitation hospital. "Among the abductees there are men, young people, women and children who spent different periods of time in captivity, so their treatment is not the same." According to
him
, the central and perhaps most important axis in the treatment of those returning from captivity is to give them back control. "The very fact that they were taken captive, they lose control over their lives and someone decides when they will eat or not eat or when they will defecate.
Therefore, the main thing is to give them the feeling that they have control over their lives and the processes they will go through.
And that doesn't happen in one day either."
According to him, "Regaining control is not just explaining to the environment how to behave towards them and letting them take the reins.
It is a question of trust - because there was also a breach of trust at the time they were kidnapped, so it is necessary to rebuild trust and bridge gaps even in the level of information they have about the country, the community and the state.
There is of course a need to be accompanied by rehabilitation psychologists and social workers who will decide together with them when it is appropriate for them to meet someone or be exposed to the media.
And, of course, to regulate the amount of exposure to people and gradually increase it according to their wishes."
Dr. Ziv Ner clarifies that "Today the State of Israel is more prepared for this than ever before and in all the hospitals that have taken in prisoners of war they have established teams prepared to receive them. It is important to understand that each person is different and therefore the rehabilitation is very Invaduali and it is arranged according to the patients' strengths, physical and mental, and according to their support system. A lot of patience and attitude are required in this accompaniment."
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As mentioned, according to the caregivers of the two and the relatives, they arrived after losing weight due to lack of nutrition and pale, this after sitting in a room at home without moving much.
As for not being exposed to the sun, Dr. Ziv Ner explains that "Vitamin D is a very important vitamin to regulate the hormones that affect bone building - a tissue that breaks down and builds itself - so in captivity it broke itself down and didn't build and this leads to osteoporosis.
Even if there was sufficient vitamin D in their diet, and there is no doubt that this did not happen, because it is found in few foods, it would have needed activation - and that is what the sun does.
It is important to understand that a bone is something that reacts to the loads that are put on it and probably that the two could not exercise during their captivity.
When you are not in motion, certainly in old age, it affects homeostasis - the regulatory processes of blood pressure, heart rate, hormonal secretions and everything that actually keeps the body reasonably active.
At the same time, the muscle mass thins due to lack of food and lack of activity.
Returning to proper nutrition is also important for building bone.
It is not calcium alone, but is related to hormones that are at a lower level in adults.
Slowly, they need to be brought back to moderate activity."
According to Dr. Ziv Ner, there are bone-building activities that are suitable for their condition.
"Hydrotherapy, for example, in the pool - which allows movement without straining the bones and working on resistance in the water is a good and important activity. Water in general is a good environment that can relieve stress, especially after the muscle mass has thinned and there is no support for the spine and joints.
"As for nutrition, one of the things they learned after the World War The second, when the Musalmans weighing 30 kg were taken out of the concentration camps, was a gradual and controlled return to nutrition.
That's why dietitians are especially important in the rehabilitation process.
They will check how much the abductees have lost in weight and how much in body mass and calculate a food chart for them that should include all the nutrients, and gradually change the ingredients and the amount.
It is important to know that people who haven't eaten for a long time have no need for food and even their appetite is impaired." "
We don't know what underlying illnesses the two have.
They most likely did not take medication, and even if they did, the dosages or the make of the pills are not clear, and they need to be returned to controlled drug treatment after monitoring, which is why they are in a hospital, and they will stay there until they balance out," concludes Dr. Ziv Ner.
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