Multisensory Rehabilitation Room Inaugurated in Memory of Fallen Soldier

Staff Sergeant Matan Vinogradov, a Nahal Brigade soldier who fell in battle at Shifa Hospital, left behind a specific wish: to establish a project in his memory that would help others. Two and a half years after his death, thanks to his family and the parents of his fellow soldiers, 'Matan's Room' was inaugurated at the Northern Medical Center (Poria), a multisensory room designed to aid the rehabilitation of approximately 150 children annually.

When Vinogradov, a fighter in the 932nd Battalion of the Nahal Brigade, deployed to the Gaza Strip, he left notes on his mobile phone for his family in case he did not return. In one note, he expressed an extraordinary request: 'I would very much like something to be established in my memory, something that will greatly help people, a life-saving organization, and something for the long term, such as in education.'

Matan fell in combat at Shifa Hospital in Gaza on March 18, 2024, at just 20 years of age. Last Friday, his wish materialized with the dedication of the new multisensory rehabilitation space at the Helmsley Rehabilitation Center, bearing his name.

The newly opened room will assist about 150 children every year, including youngsters dealing with head injuries, orthopedic and neurological traumas, and various physical setbacks. It was funded through a crowdfunding campaign initiated by Matan's family, supported by the parents of soldiers who served alongside him in his company, fulfilling his legacy to continuously help others.

Fulfilling a Fallen Soldier's Final Wish

The commemoration began during a profoundly painful period. On March 18, 2024, amid fighting in Shifa Hospital, Matan was killed by a missile strike. The news reached the company's parents' WhatsApp group, where his mother posted the heartbreaking message: 'The casualty is my son.'

At the time, Matan's comrades remained in Gaza and could not attend his funeral or mourning period. Consequently, their parents decided to attend the funerals and condolence visits on their behalf. During one of the shiva visits, Slava Kiselyov, the husband of Matan's older sister Stella, spoke with Keren Tamir, one of the company's mothers, about the notes Matan left on his phone.

Tamir, a resident of Israel's northern region, mobilized to help the family advance the memorial project. Together, they launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised donations to support two medical centers: Schneider Children's Medical Center and the Northern Medical Center.

A Therapeutic Space for Children

'Matan's Room' is designed to provide children with a therapeutic environment combining sensory stimuli with motor and cognitive activities. The facility includes perimeter lighting, fiber-optic cascades, a sound system, tactile and olfactory stimuli, and a vibroacoustic system that integrates sound and vibration.

In addition to sensory regulation and relaxation tools, an interactive projector was installed to encourage movement, activity, and cognitive thinking. The system allows children to interact with their environment, while therapists can adjust stimulus intensity to suit each child's specific needs.

Slava Kiselyov, Matan's brother-in-law, reflected on the project: 'When we decided to donate to a hospital in the north, we visited the Northern Medical Center and toured the facilities. Meeting with the rehabilitation center's management and the friends association, we were offered the opportunity to equip the multisensory room in the pediatric rehabilitation department.'

'The family immediately understood that this project suited Matan's spirit,' Kiselyov added. 'It is an intimate room that allows children to relax from the surrounding commotion, a warm and quiet corner. We want to thank the masses who helped fulfill his legacy and contributed to this cause.'