Jewish Center Victim Changes Hospitals

Five-year-old Benjamin Kadish, the youngest and most seriously wounded victim in last month’s Jewish Community Center shooting, was transferred Monday to Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills, a hospital spokeswoman said.

“He’s here,” said Linda Quon, public relations director for Kaiser Permanente in the Valley. “He arrived this morning around 11. He’s in good condition. His parents are with him right now.

Benjamin has been at Los Angeles Childrens Hospital since Aug. 10, when he and four others were shot in an attack at the North Valley Jewish Community Center in Granada Hills. The other four victims of alleged gunman Buford O. Furrow Jr. have long since been released from area hospitals.

“He still has his colostomy bag, and he is staying for physical therapy,” Quon said. “We wanted to have him meet the people who are going to take care of him, here in our system.”

At the request of Benjamin’s parents, Quon refused to elaborate on the boy’s condition.

Although doctors at Childrens Hospital said last month that Benjamin is not expected to suffer any permanent damage from his near-fatal injuries, he has remained at the hospital learning to use a wheelchair and crutches.

A bullet shattered his left femur, and he was also shot in the stomach.

Quon said she did not know when Benjamin would be able to return home to West Hills.