Fighter critically injured in Gaza en route to recovery

Baby steps: Golani Sergeant Dvir Bar-Hai, who suffered sever injuries during the Israeli offensive in Gaza in January and was hospitalized at the Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba, was transferred to the Loewenstein Rehabilitation Center in Raanana on Sunday.

"The fact that he is being transferred to rehabilitation after six week in intensive care is very encouraging," said Dvir's father, Zvi Bar-Hai, who is also the head of the South Hebron Regional Council. "He has a long way to go. He hasn’t fully regained consciousness yet, but he's getting there. We keep praying and we know that with time he will recover."

Dvir, he told Ynet, has opened his eye several times, but has yet to communicate with those around him. "We have been showered with love. The medical staff here is first rate and they've been by our side every step of the way and through all of the hard moments."

Leah, Dvir's mother, said the most exciting moment was when they realized he would be leaving the hospital.

"This is a new path... Dvir has great strength. We've had many difficult moments, but we are people of faith. I can feel him speak with his eyes. He knows he's hurt. I keep telling him that his legs are okay and that he will be his old self again."

"We too share in this exciting moment," said Dr. Motti Klein, head of Soroka's Intensive Care Unit. "Dvir arrived here suffering serious injuries to his extremities and severe blood loss. He underwent emergency surgery followed by a series of operations, until he was fully stabilized. Now he is ready to begin the rehabilitation process."

Shortly before the Bar-Hai family left Soroka in favor of the Loewenstein Center, they met with the parents of Givati Brigade soldier Ben Buchnik – the last soldier to be injured in the Gaza fighting.

Buchnik was transferred to Loewenstein Rehabilitation Center last week, and was in Soroka on Sunday for a routine checkup.

"It makes me so happy to hear that another soldier is off to rehabilitation," said Ben's mother. "When Ben was here, the first thing he wanted to know was when he would be able to go back to his unit. The doctors told him it was entirely up to him. That is what gets him through the rehabilitating process."

Dr. Avi Cohen, head of neurosurgery at Soroka said Ben's recovery was going well.

"We though he had lost his ability to speak, at first. He still has difficulties communicating, but I hope he will overcome that soon. He wants to return to the service and I hope the military allows him to do so."