Boy with Prader-Willi Syndrome Falls Four Stories Due to Intense Hunger

An eight-year-old boy, Nitai Alfasi, who suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome, also known as "deadly hunger syndrome," fell approximately 17 meters (four stories) after attempting to climb down an air conditioning pipe to buy candy. The incident occurred when Nitai, driven by an insatiable hunger, unlocked a balcony door, took money, and climbed over the railing. The pipe detached, causing him to fall to the asphalt. His five-year-old brother, Arbel, witnessed the fall and alerted their mother.

Nitai was rushed to Beilinson Hospital in critical condition with severe multi-system trauma, including a head injury, spinal fractures, facial and pelvic fractures, and a hip injury. After initial treatment, he was transferred to Schneider Children's Medical Center for intensive care and rehabilitation. His father, Michael, described the ordeal as the most difficult experience of his life, expressing immense relief and joy at his son's gradual recovery, calling it a "miracle."

Prader-Willi syndrome is a rare genetic disorder affecting chromosome 15, characterized by low muscle tone and feeding difficulties in infancy, followed by an uncontrollable appetite and a constant search for food. This can lead to severe obesity and developmental and motor challenges, increasing the risk of accidents. The family had implemented strict measures, including locking the kitchen door with two locks and carefully controlling Nitai's food intake, but the syndrome's powerful drive ultimately led to the accident.

After weeks of hospitalization and intensive care, Nitai began to show signs of recovery, moving his leg and eventually opening his eyes and recognizing his father. He was gradually weaned off the ventilator and underwent orthopedic surgery. While still facing a long recovery and ongoing physiotherapy, Nitai is communicating, talking, and laughing. The family emphasizes the importance of constant vigilance, dietary control, and behavioral management for children with this syndrome, urging other parents not to give up despite the challenges.