After 28 Years Of Being Bent, The 'Folded Man' Receives Life-Changing Surgery
For nearly three decades, Li Hua's world was confined to the angle of his bent posture, looking down due to a severe case of ankylosing spondylitis a type of spinal arthritis. At 18, he developed a condition that slowly fused his spine, folding his body until his chin rested on his chest.
[ ADVERTISEMENT ]
Despite the challenges and the high risks including potential paraplegia, Li Hua underwent a series of life-changing surgeries at Shenzhen University General Hospital, which promised a slim chance of a normal life a chance he bravely took.
Li Hua’s life took an unimaginable turn when he was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis as a teenager.
This rare disease causes the spinal joints to fuse, drastically reducing mobility. For Li, it meant living bent double, unable to straighten his back, with his face pressed against his thighs. The condition not only altered his physical appearance but confined him to a life of severe discomfort and limited independence.
By 2020, the financial and emotional toll on Li's family was immense, but the hope of recovery came when they approached Shenzhen University General Hospital. There, Dr. Tao Huiren, a skilled surgeon, proposed a daring plan to reverse the effects of decades of bone fusion.
The strategy involved not one, but four high-risk surgeries, each with its own set of dangers and challenges, likened by Dr. Tao to "scaling Mount Everest."
The first procedure focused on the femoral osteotomy surgically breaking and reconstructing the thigh bones to increase the gap between his face and thigh, essential for the subsequent surgeries.
Following this, a cervical osteotomy allowed Li to lift his head for the first time in years. The third surgery targeted his lumbar spine, and finally, a complex procedure to replace his hip joints was performed, which enabled him to stand up straight.
After enduring these surgeries, Li's transformation was profound. Not only could he stand and look his mother in the eyes, but he also dreamed of a future where he could live a more normal life.
The recovery process was arduous; Li had to relearn basic movements and cope with muscle atrophy. Yet, with each small step, he regained parts of his life that had seemed lost forever.
As Li stood looking up at the sky for the first time in nearly three decades, he and his mother wept with joy, overwhelmed by the journey they had endured together.
This story of resilience and medical marvel demonstrates the incredible advances in medical science and the human spirit’s capacity to face seemingly insurmountable challenges.