Afsheen Gul, a teenager from Mithi in Pakistan’s Sindh province, has made a complete recovery from a rare atlanto-axial rotatory dislocation a severe cervical spine condition that twisted her neck nearly 90 degrees since a fall at 10 months old thanks to four complex surgeries provided free of charge at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in Delhi.
Led by renowned spine specialist Dr. Rajagopalan Krishnan after Pakistani doctors deemed her case untreatable, the treatment spanned months in 2022 amid India-Pakistan tensions.
Dr. Krishnan told the BBC, “We attached her skull to the spinal cord using rods and screws in a six-hour operation… It’s a miracle she’s walking now.” Her brother Mohammad Yakoob Kumbar added, “Our angel from India gave her a new life.”
As of December 2025 social media updates from her family and hospital networks, Afsheen walks independently, eats without aid, attends check-ups remotely, and lives a normal life, embodying cross-border humanity.
From a Decade of Immobility to Daily Independence
Afsheen’s ordeal began over a decade ago when, as a toddler also living with cerebral palsy, she suffered a seemingly minor fall that went undiagnosed and untreated, leading to the progressive twisting of her neck into an unnatural 90-degree angle.
This atlanto-axial rotatory dislocation a rare misalignment where the top two vertebrae of the spine rotate abnormally rendered basic tasks impossible: she could neither walk unaided, sit upright, nor eat without assistance, confining her to a bed or her family’s modest home in rural Mithi without access to schooling or play.
The Delhi medical team, under Dr. Krishnan’s expertise, executed a meticulously planned sequence of interventions. Initial preparatory surgeries reduced the rotation, followed by the pivotal six-hour main procedure in February 2022, where titanium rods and screws meticulously realigned her skull to the spine.
A custom neck brace stabilised the structure post-surgery, despite challenges from her cerebral palsy. Dr. Krishnan emphasised the risks: “It was high-stakes; any misalignment could have paralysed her permanently.” Yet, Afsheen’s resilience shone through.
Recent 2025 Instagram reels from her family show her standing tall, walking steadily, managing household chores, and even smiling confidently with full head control milestones unimaginable before. She continues five-year follow-up care via video calls every six months, with advice to walk only under supervision.
Cross-Border Treatment Triumph
Afsheen’s story first drew global attention in 2017 when local doctors in Pakistan, including at major facilities, recognised the condition but lacked the specialised tools for such an intricate paediatric spine correction. Desperate, her family turned to international medical networks, connecting with Dr. Krishnan, a veteran surgeon with experience in complex deformities.
Despite strained India-Pakistan relations, he volunteered the full treatment covering consultations, surgeries, hospital stays, rehabilitation, and even travel facilitating her visa and safe overland journey via the Wagah border.
“Borders should never come in the way of saving a life,” Dr. Krishnan stated, echoing a humanitarian ethos that cut through diplomatic fog. Apollo Hospital’s administration supported logistics seamlessly, turning a potential barrier into a bridge.
Post-surgery challenges persisted: the brace was cumbersome, and cerebral palsy complicated recovery, but family support prevailed. Her brother noted in recent updates, “She can now eat sitting up, go to the market it’s freedom.” This resurgence highlights how one act of compassion continues to inspire amid ongoing regional dialogues on health cooperation.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Afsheen Gul’s extraordinary journey stands as a beacon of unyielding humanity, where medical brilliance and selfless kindness dissolve borders, fostering peace, empathy, and harmony in a divided world. It reminds us that true progress blooms from acts of dialogue and coexistence, challenging us to amplify stories that unite rather than divide.
At The Logical Indian, we wholeheartedly champion such tales of cross-border goodwill, urging societies to invest in global health initiatives and compassionate leadership for lasting social change.
