Balance therapy for Tomer

Tomer is a 29-year old single man who suffers from a host of medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, depression, acute pain and orthopedic problems.  He lives with his mother, who herself is quite ill with diabetes.

Tomer immigrated to Israel from Romania with his parents when he was three. While in Israel, Tomer’s father had a work accident in which he lost both hands.  Since then, he has not worked, and Tomer grew up in poverty and extreme scarcity.

At age 16, he was diagnosed with a benign tumor on his spinal cord and he underwent surgery which left him with compromised mobility, difficulty in basic functioning, and significant leg and foot pain.

Tomer has tried to integrate into various work environments, but due to serious back pain, is unable to sit or stand for more than a few minutes. He describes experiencing depression and loneliness and is unemployed.

Tomer’s doctor has suggested balance therapy *, but this is not provided by Israel’s public health system, and Tomer cannot afford the treatment.

*balance therapy is a type of balance retraining that involves exercises to compensate for imbalance and to maintain physical activity.