Woman Survives "Internal Decapitation"

Car Crash Separates Woman's Skull From Her Spine; But After Surgery, She's Not Paralyzed

(CBS/AP)  Even her surgeon calls her a miracle.

Shannon Malloy was critically injured Jan. 25 when she was slammed into the dashboard during a car crash. Her skull separated from her spine, although her skin, spinal cord and other internal organs remained intact.

The rare condition is known as clinically as internal decapitation, and it left her with no control over her head.

Dr. Gary Ghiselli, an orthopedic spine surgeon at the Denver Spine Center, said he and his colleagues had never seen such an injury in someone still living.

"I've seen it once before," Ghiselli said, "and, unfortunately, the patient didn't make it."

Physicians in Nebraska, where Malloy lives, didn't have much hope.

"It was just really scary because he just kept saying that 'we've never ever seen this injury in a person that's alive, and you need to say your good-byes now,'" her mother, Robin Frazee, told Denver station KMGH-TV.

Ghiselli said a will to survive kept Malloy, 30, alive long enough for surgeons to insert screws in her head and neck and attach a halo to minimize movement — no easy task.

"My skull slipped off my neck about five times," Malloy said. "Every time they tried to screw this to my head, I would slip."

Doctors eventually stabilized her head and her neck muscles regained strength. The halo has since been removed.

"It's a miracle that she was able to survive from the actual accident," Ghiselli said. "It's a miracle that she's made the progress that she's made."

She still has obstacles to overcome like the nerve damage that makes her eyes cross and a feeding tube because she has difficulty swallowing.

"I would ideally like to be fully recovered. I know that's not going to be a great possibility, but I can come really close though," said Malloy.

[shanmalloy]

I just want to thank all the people who see this story for what it is -- a need for good thoughts, well wishes and positive energy.
To the rest of you, I challenge you to spend one hour without swallowing even your own saliva and walking and doing everything with your eyes crossed. This is my current life.
Also, the term being used is "medical miracle" by doctors as well...no one said it was divine intervention. Semantics can be tricky!

[nottellin1]

I'm beginning to believe that CNN has the right idea: No comment section. Comments seem to bring the rats out of the dumpster.
Posted by neenga at 09:17 AM : May 18, 2007

SO WHAT. People like you are part of what is wrong with America. If you don't want to read it, don't look. No one is forcing you.

[itwasntme000]

I'm beginning to believe that CNN has the right idea: No comment section. Comments seem to bring the rats out of the dumpster.
Posted by neenga at 09:17 AM : May 18, 2007

Posting boards such as this one intice people to say what is really on their minds instead of the "socially acceptable" robotic blank faced responces you get from most people. Granted i have read a few pretty innapropiate postings where every other word is a sware word. This posting board has no real controversy on it so far.

screw cnn... no posting board = really really boring time reading the news with no critical thinking about the topic. And no idea what others think about the articles..

[neenga]

I'm beginning to believe that CNN has the right idea: No comment section. Comments seem to bring the rats out of the dumpster.

[luckygirl042]

Wow! What an incredibly strong and lucky woman.Her will to survive must be awesome. I am impressed at the skill of the doctors who kept her alive and did all of the delicate reattachment that was necessary. I have to ask though, why should a basketball player or other athlete make more money than a doctor who can perform such a miraculous "save"? It's a strange strange world we live in...
Get well soon, Shannon, the Universe has truly blessed you.

[gramto7]

Having worked in an emergency room for several years and seen instances of neck injuries, I can fully appreciate what this lady has gone through. She is a very strong person to have survived and one very fortunate person to have had the doctors with the knowledge and equipment to care for her properly. It would have taken such a tiny wrong movement to have changed the outcome from what it is to one with her being in her grave that it makes me have cold chills to even think about it. She is definitely on very lucky or very blessed lady, depending on what the truth is about a greater Being!

[noaanhc]

Holy God she is one lucky woman.

[dbstevens]

Wow, I wish I could tell Shannon in person what an incredible inspiration she is!!! There are so many people who feel hopeless about their injuries and personal situations, and someone like this really can bolster their hopes!

[elizabethstr]

be careful Wayfedup. Remember we do not have civil liberties like freedom of expression anymore in this country.

[nothappyatall]

'm so glad this poor girl recovered. We have President Bush and his Administration to thank for this.
Posted by NorshaTakaha "

Yeah right, he voted to CUT funding that is already bare bones- for medical research to help balance thebudget and his little WAR.

[wayfedup]

I'm so glad this poor girl recovered. We have President Bush and his Administration to thank for this.
Posted by NorshaTakaha at 06:25 PM : May 17, 2007


How, Exactly, do we have Resident Bush and his Evil Empire to thank for THIS?

[norshatakaha]

I'm so glad this poor girl recovered. We have President Bush and his Administration to thank for this.

[incog-nito]

What cruel remark? Lighten up people. She's recovering now, and that's a good thing.

Just like her mother always said, "that kid's got a good head on her shoulders."

[jdubs63]

what is it they say Ignorance is Bliss???
Yes there is no need to make cruel remarks can you just imagine being Shannon Mallory or the Medical team..God Bless them

[rebelrose62]

Some of you with those remarks about this woman, you are so ever ignorant. That could have been you and how would you feel if people made those remarks about you. It could be a loved one. You are heartless people. As for the ones who dont believe in GOD...Matt. 10..30-32- 33 says..."But the very hairs of your head are all numbered."..
"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven",
"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven" I guess you will be living with the devil then.

[dssans]

i'm sorry but for anyone to enjoy making fun of someone else in their pain and suffering is a sick and perverted sense of humor. Whether you are a God fearing person or not, (and I am not) this does have the right to have something be called nearly impossible or a MIRACLE. maybe before you start on your rants you should read the definition of the word " miracle"...
...an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers.

I think that this might just qualify...

[tibu987]

How is it that after every favorable thing that happens in life people say, it was a miracle and often praise the goodness of god.

How is it that after every catastrophe which sometimes kills thousands of people, no one ever says that god should have prevented it and at least be blamed for it?

Just wondrin'.

[chicagoboy22]

settle down religious and non religious people... actually if you look at the top of the article, it says "Health Watch"... no need for religious debate here.

[itwasntme000]

yo_marc

As one comedian i heard say. God mad the universe some blablabla trillion bagillion years ago. And he made it in what 6 days and then took sunday off?? It sounds like a 5th grade science fair project that he spent no time on. And come on man if their is something out their that can make the universe basically instantaneous, and did it that long ago, isn't the entity bored yet??? And imagine how much cooler stuff it would be able to make now, some 2908766958 gazillion years since it made the universe??

[doo58]

Some of the ignorant comments I've read! Open your eyes people! I've been shot twice (once in the face with a 12 guage), stabbed once, had two strokes, three heart attacks, have MS, and have been struck by lightning, and conplan6022 says "I'd rather die than be crippled". Here's a news flash for you con, you're already crippled! No guts, no fortitude, no drive, no want! You've quit before you even started. All you're doing is taking up space and using air that the rest of us could have. I use a scooter for long distances I need to go, and a cane for walking. But I remain working in Advertising/Marketing, I'm happily married to a gorgeous woman, have a summer place at the lake, and I have wonderful plans for our retirement in 7 months, at the age of 49. Go hide in some safe corner, Con. I'd hate for you to get a boo boo when I pass you by while I'm living my life!!!!