'Folded man' finally gets surgery to stand up straight after 28 years of suffering from rare disease

A man who lived with a condition which left him 'folded over' for years finally had life-changing surgery after consulting a specialist doctor.

Li Hua, from China, had suffered with an autoimmune disease called ankylosing spondylitis for almost 30 years. This can result in bones fusing together, meaning that the spine curves forward.

He first started seeing symptoms of the condition when he was 18 years old, and as it progressed it became increasingly debilitating.

Eventually it became so bad that Li was left completely doubled over and unable to stand up straight, or even lie down flat.

During this time he required full time care from his mom to support him properly.

The family searched for a place where he could get specialist treatment for years without success.

Li Hua before surgery. (Shenzhen University General Hospital)

However, in 2020 they finally managed to get Li specialist treatment at Shenzhen University General Hospital after meeting with Dr Tao Huiren.

The medical professional compared the difficulty of the surgeries to 'scaling Mount Everest' and took two weeks to get a plan mapped out.

Ultimately, Li had to undergo four complicated procedures that would break and reconstruct his bones to help to restore some mobility to his joints, so he could stand up straight.

And amazingly, they proved to be a success, with Li subsequently regaining a lot of movement in his body with the support of physical rehabilitation after the operations.

Now Li has 20 pins in his neck and cannot move it.

He still needs his mom's help to stand up and lie down, as well as to go to the bathroom.

However, Li is still adamant that his situation has improved dramatically since he had the surgery.

Li Hua after the surgery. (Shenzhen University General Hospital)

Speaking to the South China Morning Post in 2020, Li said: “I’ve been doing the rehabilitation exercises at home in the past few months.

"Now I can walk slowly with the walking frame, go to the sink, brush my teeth and wash my face. I can hold a bowl and eat like anyone else, sitting at the table.

“I’m happy - I have hope.

His mom, Tang Dongchen, said: “I wasn’t going to give up on my son.

“I gave birth to him, so I had to try my best to find a way to make him better. Otherwise, when I die, who will look after him?”

While there is no complete cure for the condition, the surgery has significantly helped Li to stand up straight and walk with the aid of a stick.