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Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Teenage Syrian airstrike victim set for life-changing spinal surgery

Najib Ali, 14, will receive vital reconstructive surgery at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital Thursday, after being sponsored by the charity Goodwill Caravan.
The boy was unable to walk after shrapnel from the attack pierced his back and lodged in his spine, perforating his lungs and leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. He was also told that unless critical surgery went ahead, his kidneys would fail.
Destroyed buldings in the Khaldiyeh district of Homs on July 28, 2013.
Najib was initially declared dead following the strike, but his mother detected a light heartbeat when touching her son's ankle for what she thought was the last time, according to Goodwill Caravan.
The family later escaped Syria to Turkey, and crossed the Mediterranean Sea and Greece in search of medical treatment, but were unable to access the required specialists.
Now after months of waiting, Najib has been permitted to travel to the UK for the spinal reconstructive surgery, which will take place on November 1.
The procedure will be carried out by pediatric spinal surgeon Ramesh Nadarajah, who waived his fees.
Nadarajah met Najib at a pre-operative consultation and ran through the surgery, which will include straightening Najib's spine and leveling his pelvis using two rods screwed into the bone.
The surgeon noted it would not be possible to restore sensation in Najib's lower back or his ability to walk. The aim of the operation is to improve the boy's comfort when seated in his wheelchair.
"Najib is a very young man. He's got many years ahead of him and what we need to do is make sure his seating is good in the wheelchair," Nadarajah told Sky News.
Najib and his family will remain at Great Ormond Street Hospital for 15 days following the operation, before he is moved to a rehabilitation center at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, northwest of London, for two months, the hospital confirmed.
The teenager's mother expressed relief after finally arriving in the UK for her son's treatment, but acknowledged that a miracle cure was unlikely.
Najib is a keen athlete and participated in the Paralympic Education Development in Refugee Populations program while in Greece, which is supported by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
He took part in two national sporting competitions in Greece, and was invited to compete in the under-18s 100-meter and 200-meter wheelchair race at the International Wheelchair Federation's 2017 world games in Portugal.
Syrians caught between regime and rebels as Idlib offensive looms
Speaking previously about his sporting experiences to Euronews, he said: "I am really happy because I met new people from Brazil, UAE and others.
"When I go back to Greece I will train more. Instead of one hour I will train for two. Instead of two I will train for three. So I can start winning races."
Talking about his hopes for the future, he added: "My dream is to get more treatment, to continue my studies and compete in the Paralympics."
While the cost of his spinal surgery has been paid for through a crowd-funding campaign run by Goodwill Caravan, he will require two further renal and colon surgeries.
The charity is currently raising funds for these procedures and the rehabilitation phase of Najib's treatment.

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