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The soldier reported that initially, his mother was told he would never walk again and that he would be permanently paralyzed from the neck down.
By Shula Rosen
An IDF soldier who was severely wounded in Gaza after being shot in the back took his first steps in recovery thanks to robotic exoskeleton technology administered at Sheba Medical Center.
The young soldier, Daniel, had survived a life-threatening injury after a terrorist shot him in the back in Gaza.
Although his life was spared, his mother was initially told that he would never walk again and that he would be permanently paralyzed from the neck down.
However, after months of treatment at Sheba Rehabilitation Center in Tel Hashomer, near Tel Aviv, he is no longer paralyzed and can now walk thanks to Sheba’s use of a cutting-edge robotic exoskeleton to support his every step.
“They didn’t think I’d make it,” he said. “Then they assumed I’d be in a vegetative state. But now, I’m walking—just a few steps. The robot follows my lead—when I stop, it stops. I can move my legs in ways I never could before.”
Sheba Rehabilitation Center has treated 2,000 soldiers since Hamas’s invasion on October 7, 2023, and thanks to expert care, 99.8% have survived.
Sheba is one of the few places in the world that offers the Atalante X robotic exoskeleton developed by the French-American company Wandercraft.
“It’s about more than just walking—it’s about restoring quality of life,” said Hanania Sharon, head of physiotherapy at Sheba’s rehabilitation hospital. “This device mirrors the body’s natural walking patterns. When a patient makes a move, the robot responds in real-time. It’s not only rebuilding physical strength; it’s reigniting motivation and hope.”
The Atalante X is a cutting-edge robotic exoskeleton designed to replicate natural human walking. With 12 powered joints and sophisticated motion algorithms, it allows individuals with severe mobility challenges to stand and walk without needing support from their hands.
The soldier, who is no longer paralyzed, is now dreaming of an active life: “I’m already thinking ahead. To walking again. To finding a good job. To driving.”
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