Shaida Abbas’ life story could
have been just about the surgery
he had four years ago that went
terribly wrong.
In fact, his life is about so much
more. He’s made sure of that.
The surgery, meant to correct a
condition known as scoliosis, involved
placing two metal rods
held down with hooks and screws
to help support the fusion of the
bones to the curved spine and its
surrounding vertebras.
Unfortunately, during Abbas’
surgery, which was performed in
his home country of Kurdistan,
the doctor made a terrible mistake
and one of the hooks used to support
the rods straightening out his
spine hit the spinal fluid in his
lower back. This devastating contact
with the fluid used to protect
the spinal cord left him paralyzed
from the waist down at age 16.
“The doctor was from France,
but was over in the Middle East
performing surgeries and everybody
said how great of a surgeon
he was, so I had the surgery. During
the surgery though, he irritated
the spinal cord liquid while placing
the rod and that immediately
paralyzed me,” said Abbas.
Abbas, a 21-year-old biology
major now in his second year at
Bucks, is just months away from
graduating and receiving his associate’s
degree.
“After graduation at Bucks, I
plan on attending Jefferson Pharmacy
School to become a medical
pharmacist because I have always
been good at science and wanted
to do something that I enjoy.”
With Abbas’ dedication, desire,
and work ethic, he certainly seems
to have the skill set to do just that.
However, what many professors
and students alike at Bucks do not
know is the challenging journey
that has taken Abbas to where he
is today.At a young age it was discovered
he had developed scoliosis,
in which a person’s spine is
curved from side to side, which
usually forms the shape of an “S”
or a “C.” This disease can create
emotional problems for those diagnosed,
severe back pain and respiratory
complications.
Once a doctor notices a child
has scoliosis with a curve of 40
degrees or greater, surgery is required
because curves that large
have a higher risk of getting worse
even after the growing process
stops.
Still, while many in a similar situation
might be resentful or angry,
Abbas has a great attitude and a
certain level of confidence that is
noticeable from the very minute
you sit down with him. His honesty
and ability to speak so candidly
about what happened to him
just four years ago shows a remarkable
level of maturity.
Like any college student
though, Abbas still has his interests
outside of homework and
studying. They include fast cars,
girls, the Phillies, and hand-cycling.
“I’ve always loved cars, even
when back in Kurdistan,” said
Abbas excitedly. “I’m also a huge
fan of a newly developed sporting
race called hand-cycling; it was
developed for disabled athletes
who could no longer ride bikes
but still
wanted to
race,” said
Abbas.
It is clear
that Abbas,
who now
resides in
Morrisville,
is an emotionally
and
m e n t a l l y
strong individual.
Six
m o n t h s
after the
failed surgery,
he and
his family
moved to
Pennsylvania
where
he finished
his last three
years of
high school before moving on to
college at Bucks.
From the very first day he
passed the driving tests for his license,
he says, “Now I don’t have
to rely on the bus or van transportations
at Bucks because I
drive, and it’s a great freedom.”
Above all, it is his attitude and
personality that gives him the true
freedom to be happy, enjoy life,
and continue his dream.