Tanjas Geschichte: Die zweite OP#querschnittlähmung #nervedamage #spinalcordinjury

It has been two years since Tanja's first surgery. At that time, the surgical team, led by Dr. Michael Becker, used her own nerve grafts to create two new nerve fibers that ran through her abdomen to her iliac crest. Because her spinal cord no longer sends electrical impulses to the lower spinal column due to her fractured thoracic vertebrae, the implanted nerve fibers are intended to take over this function via the abdominal cavity. Over the past two years, they may have already matured into fully functional motor nerves. In this second and final operation, the transplanted nerve fibers will be connected under a microscope, in her open abdomen at the level of her iliac crest, to the still-intact leg nerves on both sides. This operation will again require at least 10 hours of the entire team at Marienhospital Aachen. Tanja was overwhelmed with emotions and anticipation for weeks beforehand. We hope with Tanja that the miracle will soon happen, that the first impulses will restore sensation and movement to her paralyzed legs!