Boy With Rare Genetic Disorder Survives Fourth-Story Fall Driven by Hunger
Translated & summarized from Channel 13 by baba
An 8-year-old boy with Prader-Willi syndrome survived a four-story fall from his balcony after attempting to reach candy due to uncontrollable hunger. The incident occurred about a month ago, and he is now undergoing rehabilitation in the hospital. His parents described the constant challenges of managing his condition, which causes insatiable hunger. The family hopes for his full recovery and increased awareness of the rare genetic disorder.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- An 8-year-old boy with Prader-Willi syndrome survived a fall from his fourth-story balcony.
- The fall was caused by the boy's uncontrollable hunger, a symptom of his rare genetic disorder.
- His younger brother witnessed the event and warned him of the danger.
- The boy is currently undergoing a complex rehabilitation process in the hospital.
- His parents manage his condition with constant supervision and special security measures.
- The family is raising awareness for Prader-Willi syndrome and seeking a cure.
An 8-year-old boy named Nitai Alfasi, who suffers from the rare genetic disorder Prader-Willi syndrome, survived a fall from his fourth-story balcony about a month ago. The syndrome causes uncontrollable hunger, leading Nitai to attempt to climb down the balcony using an air conditioning pipe in an effort to get candy. His 5-year-old brother, Arbel, witnessed the event and warned Nitai of the danger, but Nitai's condition prevents him from understanding such risks. Nitai lost his grip and fell, but miraculously survived the four-story drop.
Following the fall, Nitai underwent a lengthy and complex rehabilitation process at the hospital. He is now making progress, recently beginning to walk with the aid of a walker. His parents, Devorah and Michael Alfasi, shared their experiences with Prader-Willi syndrome, which was diagnosed when Nitai was only three weeks old due to hypotonia. They described their lives as a constant security operation, requiring special kitchen doors and close supervision to prevent Nitai from accessing food at all hours.
Devorah explained the constant vigilance needed, stating, "It's really about keeping him busy all day, around the clock, so that God forbid he doesn't try to steal food, even a raw egg with the shell." The morning of the incident began normally, with Michael leaving for work. However, Nitai's overwhelming urge for food led him to take money and car keys from his mother's bag, intending to go downstairs. He climbed onto the balcony railing and attempted to lower himself down.
Michael recounted receiving the call from Devorah about the fall shortly after leaving home, describing his devastation in the hospital's trauma room. Despite the severe injuries, Nitai showed remarkable resilience from the start, with his first words to his father being, "Dad, you're bothering me." The family continues to pray for his full recovery and for increased awareness and a cure for Prader-Willi syndrome, expressing immense love and pride for their resilient son.