12 Year-Old Underwent Surgery to Remove a Spinal Tumor at Schneider Children's Medical Center and was saved from Paralysis

About two months ago, Dan was attending his classmate's bat mitzvah party when he suddenly felt a sensation of paralysis and had difficulty walking. He dragged his leg on his way home, and once he arrived, he told his parents what had happened. Concerned, his parents immediately took him to the family doctor and afterward to an orthopedic specialist. However, Dan's condition worsened, and he struggled even more with walking. It became clear to his parents that they needed to take him urgently to the hospital. They arrived at the Emergency Medicine Department at Schneider Children's Medical Center, part of the Clalit Group, where Dan was examined and diagnosed with a spinal tumor.

Dr. Amir Kershenovich, Head of the Neurosurgery Unit at Schneider Children's, explained to Dan's parents that he needed emergency surgery to save his motor functions and prevent further deterioration. Dan successfully underwent surgery, and after a recovery period in the hospital, he was discharged home. Recently, he has begun a rehabilitation process that includes physical therapy and occupational therapy.

According to Dr. Kershenovich: "This is a very rare tumor in that area that fortunately turned out to be a benign cyst. However, had we waited just a little longer, he could have experienced complete paralysis. In such cases, there is a narrow window of opportunity for treatment, and we were fortunate to act in time. It's also crucial that we were able to remove the tumor completely and safely, which is especially important for an athletic and competitive boy like Dan. We wish him a full and speedy recovery."

Dan's parents shared, "Dan feels good. He's walking, and he's even back riding his bike. Slowly but surely, he's returning to his normal routine. We want to thank the amazing team at Schneider Children's, especially Dr. Kershenovich, who acted decisively during a critical moment."