After a sports accident in 2005, Megan King experienced serious joint and muscle problems. Ten years later, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease called hypermobile Ehler’s-Danlos syndrome that affects collagen production in the body. During a football game at the age of 16, Megan King fell hard on the ground, leading to a total of 37 surgeries. The young woman injured her right ankle and spine during the incident, causing the muscles in both shoulder blades to tear. Meghan King had to live with crutches for over a year, and her wounds worsened over time.

Despite numerous surgeries, doctors could not understand why Megan King was not healing. However, a decade after the accident, it was discovered that the young woman had been affected by the rare genetic disease hypermobile Ehler’s-Danlos syndrome. This condition impacts the body’s ability to produce collagen, which is crucial for joint tissue, causing various health problems like muscle tears, joint dislocations, heart issues, and internal bleeding.

One year after the diagnosis, Megan’s neck dislocated, and she had a metal device called a halo brace screwed into her skull to stabilize her head. However, this was not sufficient. When the device was removed, Megan’s skull was almost completely detached from her spine. This extremely life-threatening condition is known as atlanto-occipital dislocation or internal decapitation. Describing those moments as “My neurosurgeon had to physically hold my skull with his hands. I couldn’t stand up,” Megan King was immediately rushed to the hospital. The young woman’s skull was then reattached to her spine.

While spine fusions are a common practice, only a small percentage of the population globally undergo such extensive surgery. Despite the challenging process, Megan King mentioned that she is slowly returning to her daily life and even recently played bowling.