Gabriel Avitan, a 59-year-old father of eight, was living a healthy life until about a year ago when numbness in his legs began. Over time, he lost sensation, stumbled and dragged his feet. Despite months of tests, results came back normal — until an MRI revealed a rare chest tumor pressing into his spine, causing paralysis.
A medical team at the Hadassah Medical Organization decided on a two-stage surgical approach. In the first stage, Dr. Ohad Einav, senior physician in the Spine Surgery Unit, led a complex procedure using the “Mazor” robot to detach the tumor from Avitan’s spinal cord, preserve his motor function and reconstruct his vertebrae.
In the second stage, Profs. Uzi Izhar and Uri Wald, heads of the Thoracic Surgery Unit, removed the massive tumor from his chest cavity.
Avitan’s recovery was extraordinary. Discharged home in excellent condition, he is now walking independently for the first time in months.
“As far as I’m concerned, the team that operated on me are angels,” said Avitan. “They gave me back my ability to walk. My life has completely changed: no cane, no help. Just me on my own two feet again.”
