Iunuz Amın Teboev, 13-year-old Russian national Iunuz Amın Teboev, whose arms and legs are bent backwards as a result of severe contractions due to dystonia and who has difficulty in speaking, found healing in the hands of Turkish doctors.

Khavazh Teboev and Lema Katıeva, a couple living in the Russian federated republic of Ingushetia, searched for a cure for years for their 13-year-old child Iunuz Amın Teboev's dystonia. When the doctors gave up hope on the child, whose severe contractions continued despite undergoing baclofen pump surgery twice in Russia, and said, “There is nothing to do,” the family came to Turkey as a last resort. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kılıç from the Department of Neurosurgery at BHT Clinic Istanbul Tema Hospital decided to implant a brain pacemaker in 13-year-old Iunuz Amın Teboev after the controls.

Doctors in Russia said “There is nothing left to do”

The child, whose arms and legs were bent backwards and almost unable to speak due to severe contractions due to dystonia, underwent brain pacemaker surgery two weeks ago. Stating that the treatment of the child, whose brain pacemaker has been adjusted and is already doing much better, will improve for 6 months, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kılıç explained the case and the treatment process as follows:

“Our patient was admitted from the Republic of Ingushetia. He had severe dystonic contractions when he arrived. Dystonia is one of the most common movement disorders we see, such as Parkinson's and essential tremor. This child had secondary generalized dystonia characterized by painful contractions affecting the whole body, causing twisting of the arms and legs. Previously, baclofen pump was applied 2 times in Russia but it was not successful. The patient applied to us as a last resort. We recommended and performed brain pacemaker surgery. We saw very positive improvements in the patient even about 2 weeks after the brain pacemaker surgery. His dystonia and painful contractions gradually decreased. The patient's quality of life has gotten better.”

“He will be better in 6 months”

Stating that many symptoms in the patient improved, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kılıç said, “The patient almost could not speak without painful contractions and his arm and leg were twisted. After the brain pacemaker surgery, we made a lot of progress, almost all of the symptoms started to improve. He will get much better in about 6 months. Because the brain pacemaker we apply in dystonia patients has a different place than Parkinson's or essential tremor patients, we can get a little later results, but even the 2-week process made us very happy.”

Stating that the pacemaker settings have been made and the family will come to Istanbul again in 6 months for control, Kılıç said, “Not only me, we have many neurosurgeon friends who do this job properly in Turkey, we have many multidisciplinary teams working. We are one of them,” he concluded his words.

“I will pray for our doctor as long as I live”

The father Khavazh Teboev, who said that they had been struggling for years for the treatment of their child, said: “We have suffered for many years because of this disease. Our son was even hospitalized in intensive care. Then we met Mr. Mustafa. We sent him photos and videos and he accepted us. Then our doctor called us here. Then we came to Turkey and after the controls, he recommended surgery for our child. He removed the old pump from the surgery performed in Russia. No matter how long I live after today, I will thank our doctor for the rest of my life. May God be pleased with Mr. Mustafa.”

“They gave my son a new life”

Mother Lema Katıeva, who burst into tears of joy due to the progress in her child's treatment, said, “I cannot thank our doctor and his team enough. Doctors in my country told me, “We cannot do anything to this child”. When I came to Turkey, I entrusted my son to God and Mr. Mustafa. God bless him, they gave my child a new life. I thank everyone,” he said, expressing his happiness.