Boy with Prader-Willi Syndrome Survives 4-Story Fall While Seeking Sweets

An 8-year-old boy, Nitai Alfasi, who suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome, a condition characterized by insatiable hunger, fell 17 meters from the fourth floor of his home in an attempt to reach a store for sweets. Nitai used a chair to climb over his balcony railing and tried to descend using an air conditioning pipe, which broke. His 5-year-old brother, Arbel, witnessed the fall and alerted their mother. Nitai was rushed to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva in critical condition with severe injuries including brain damage, spinal trauma, and multiple fractures.

After several weeks in intensive care at Schneider Children's Medical Center in Petah Tikva, Nitai is gradually recovering. His father, Michael, described the ordeal as a "miracle," noting that doctors initially gave him no chance of survival. The family has always maintained strict dietary controls due to Nitai's condition, weighing food and limiting sweets, but he found a way to bypass their security measures.

Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting approximately 1 in 15,000 newborns, causes a constant feeling of hunger and can lead to impulsivity and an inability to assess danger. Dr. Naama Orenstein, head of the genetics department at Schneider, explained that the syndrome progresses through stages, from feeding difficulties in infancy to an unquenchable appetite later in life. While there is no cure, comprehensive medical, behavioral, and dietary management can help control symptoms.

Nitai's recovery is ongoing, and he has been moved to Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer for rehabilitation. Despite lingering injuries to his leg, mouth, and jaw, he is undergoing physical therapy, communicating, and showing signs of improvement. His father shared a message of perseverance for other parents of children with the syndrome, emphasizing the importance of strict management and adaptation for their children's well-being.