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.