The Story of a Woman Who Survived an "Internal Decapitation" (6 photos)
On September 21, 2005, Megan King, now 35, was playing soccer when she landed awkwardly. The Illinois resident injured her right ankle and spine, and tore the muscles in both shoulder blades. According to the American, she "turned into a living statue" and had to fight for her health for decades. 
After the ill-fated school game, Megan spent more than a year on crutches, but over the years her injuries worsened. Megan had to undergo 22 complex surgeries, but doctors could not understand why her body could not recover. It was only in 2015 that the patient was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. This genetic disorder disrupts the production of collagen, the basis of the body's connective tissue. The disease leads to soft tissue ruptures, joint dislocations, and heart problems.
King noted: "When collagen is insufficient, it can lead to a variety of symptoms. Collagen can be compared to the foundation of a house. If the foundation is weakened, the house can collapse." 
In 2006, Megan suffered a dislocated neck and was given a Halo brace, a special metal device that attaches to the skull and holds the neck and head upright. The situation was complicated when, during the removal of the device, the skull almost completely separated from the spine.
A rare condition called atlanto-occipital dislocation, or internal decapitation, is deadly.
A woman said: "I leaned back in my chair to keep gravity from decapitating me. The neurosurgeon had to hold my skull with his hands. I couldn't stand. My right side was shaking uncontrollably." 
Doctors performed a miracle - they performed a unique operation, connecting her skull to her spine. When she woke up, King could no longer move her head - surgeons fused the vertebrae from the skull to the pelvis. 
She said: "I'm like a statue. My spine doesn't move at all. But that doesn't mean I've stopped living."
Recently, Megan was able to go bowling, one of her favorite activities. Now she's learning how to use her new body.
