A young girl from the Philippines has been given a new lease on life after undergoing a high-risk spinal surgery in Dubai that doctors in her home country feared could leave her paralyzed.
Jessica Cruz, 11, had battled congenital neuromuscular scoliosis since birth, a rare and worsening condition that severely affected her spine, breathing, and mobility. Despite multiple consultations in the Philippines, the procedures offered were risky—with one lasting up to 12 hours and posing a significant threat of permanent paralysis. Determined to find a safer alternative, her parents turned to Adam Vital Hospital in Dubai.
There, spinal deformity specialist Prof. Dr. Hany Abdel Gawwad took on Jessica’s case—one he described as among the most complex he had ever encountered.
“Jessica’s surgery was truly a race against time,” Dr. Hany said in a Gulf Today report. “Her spine was not only severely curved, but her spinal cord had been exposed due to past surgeries. She also had hydatid cysts running along the entire spine and was suffering from dangerous weight loss and reduced lung function.”
Thanks to precise planning, advanced 3D simulation tools, and close collaboration between the surgical, anesthesiology, and ICU teams, the procedure was a success. Jessica regained full mobility and began walking soon after the operation—defying the dire predictions once surrounding her case.
Jessica’s surgery was one of 10 complex scoliosis operations performed over three days at Adam Vital Hospital, involving patients from the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine. The hospital’s success highlights its growing reputation as a global destination for advanced spinal care.