We are from Iraq. My son's birth weight was just 1,7 kilograms. He was transferred immediately to the NICU in a nearby hospital where he stayed for almost 3 months. While recharging sounded like a good step, Adil’s struggles unfortunately weren’t yet over. When he was 12 months old, we noticed issues like crawling and not responding to sounds and visuals. MRI confirmed he had cerebral palsy. Physicians began physical therapy to help his muscles improve. In the beginning, the treatments seemed beneficial. However, Adil struggled more and more with spasticity and painful spasms. During this time, I applied to different doctors for possible treatment alternatives. I also visited Acıbadem Healthcare Group's Erbil Information Office. Adil's medical reports were sent to Professor Memet Özek, Acıbadem University Department of Neurosurgery. Thus, our treatment journey started at Acıbadem Hospital. The professor explained the treatment plan and said they would perform selective dorsal rhizotomy, which involves cutting a portion of the dorsal roots of spinal nerves as they relieve the spinal column and dwindle high muscle tones. In addition, the surgery improves reception by clearing the communication lines between the body’s spinal cord nerves and muscles, which helps subside muscle tone and stiffness. After the surgery, the treatment continues with intensive physical rehabilitation. The following day, Adil's SDR surgery was successfully performed. After the procedure, my son continued treatment with physical rehabilitation, a crucial part of the SDR treatment. After a month of physical therapy, my son was able to sit up and maintain his balance better. His legs were much more relieved, and felt almost no pain. What’s more, the surgery improved his fine motor skills, speech, and even the volume of his voice. Today, Adil is 5, and he can walk independently with his crutches. Soon, he'll gain the ability to walk without any support or crutches. He is a more confident, social, and articulate boy. He has the opportunity of a better life. I am happy that everything worked out just fine. I can’t thank Acıbadem Hospital and Professor Memet Özek enough.

Ahmad's explanation who is father of Adil, an Iraqi boy aged 4, suffered from cerebral palsy