A British mum who suffers from a rare condition which could “internally decapitate” her at any moment will be driven 1,000 miles on her back for life-saving treatment. Rachel Pighills, 35, had been moving into a new house when she struck her head on a ceiling fan when she stood on a bed, leaving her with horrific injuries, in August 2018.
She was diagnosed with atlanto axial instability and basilar invagination, meaning her brain is sinking into her spinal canal and her skull is sliding down onto her neck. It means she can no longer turn her head the wrong way as each time she does her spine partially dislocates, increasing her risk of paralysis or death.
The precarious position of his wife's health has made her husband Guy feel "heartbroken and helpless" as the couple desperately hunt for treatments. The couple were given a glimmer of hope when Dr Paolo Bolognese offered to operate on her in New York.
