Courtesy Hatcher Hurd / Appen NewspapersNovember 19, 2009
JOHNS CREEK – Itzik Ozery is known all over his native country of Israel as "Itzik the Clown."
But it's for a good reason: He is the Captain Kangaroo of Israel, hosting a daily radio program for children and appearing on Israeli television's youth channel. He also writes an advice column for children, answering the questions they send in.
Ozery has come to Atlanta under the sponsorship of the Israeli Consulate on a special mission to bring smiles and perhaps laughter to children in local hospitals. For 18 years, he has been a certified medical clown at The Schneider Children's Medical Center, the largest children's hospital in the Middle East.
At the hospital, the doctors recognize the therapeutic value of Ozery's rapport with severely ill or injured children so much he is considered part the staff. He helps children get through difficult procedures, then helps with the rehabilitation.
"For instance, Itzik uses balloons in his act a great deal. So he can get a child to blow up a balloon as part of respiratory exercises in the child's physical therapy. He can calm a child who is going through a difficult procedure," said Israeli Deputy Consul General Sharon Kabalo.
Dr. Enrique Freud, director of Schneider's Surgery Department, said Ozery's work is invaluable.
"Itzik succeeds in getting things from the children that no doctor or nurse can do," he said.
According to Freud, humor and laughter are positive influences on the recovery process of the child, helping encourage patient and his family.
"The level of anxiety and tension in the child and his family are diminished when Itzik comes into the room. Children hospitalized for prolonged periods just wait for the day that Itzik the Clown will arrive," Freud said.
Itzik the Clown is always "on alert" every day of the year. In the event of terrorist attacks or other critical contingencies, the department's head nurse has standing instructions to call him in and cheer up the children.
In Atlanta, however, he has not been so readily accepted into children's wards because of the fear of spreading H1N1 and a general lack of understanding about what Itzik the Clown does.
Meanwhile, Ozery asked if it could be arranged for him to entertain older adults. And so it came to pass that he was invited to The Cohen Home, a Jewish-oriented assisted living residence in Johns Creek.
Using magic, jokes and an endless supply of balloons, Ozery performed for about a dozen residents. While Itzik the Clown's English is not quite perfect, the language of his comedy is.
"In Israel, I volunteer two days a week at Children's Medical Center. One day I work in cancer ward, the other day I go to surgical ward," he said. "Sometimes I get call in middle of the night to come to hospital. It makes me good feeling when I can make children smile."
His next stop is Houston, Texas, as he visits America.
Connie Dodge, an activity director at The Cohen Home, said she was pleased to have Ozery entertain the residents.
"We were delighted when we got the call from the consulate asking us if he could make a stop at our facility. They just adored him. He knows how to make a connection with people, and he just makes them laugh," Dodge said. "And we all need that."
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