German boy recovers after near-fatal crash, following surgery in Chicago

It has been described as a remarkable feat of modern medicine. A two-year-old boy from Germany who was on the brink of losing his life in a car crash while in Mexico has now left a hospital in Chicago and is on the road to recovery. In April, during a family trip to Mexico, their minivan was struck by an armored vehicle travelling at 70 miles per hour. The impact was so severe that it completely severed 2-year-old Oliver's head from his spinal cord. Doctors in Mexico had initially declared that Oliver, who was brain-dead and unable to move his limbs, had just a few days to live. Despite the grim prognosis, Oliver's family never gave up hope. They took care of him in Mexico until they were able to bring him to Chicago with the help of donations raised through social media, including support from German soccer player Toni Kroos. In Chicago, Dr. Mohamad Bydon and his team at UChicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital performed two complex spinal surgeries over two days to reattach Oliver's head to his spine. Despite a moment of his heart stopping during the procedures, Oliver was successfully resuscitated. Following weeks of recovery and concerns over brain swelling, Oliver has defied all odds - not only is he breathing on his own, but he is also smiling, laughing, and moving his fingers and toes. Described as a miracle by his parents, doctors consider Oliver's progress to be unprecedented. Dr. Mohamad Bydon expressed his surprise at Oliver's improvement, stating that his ability to breathe without the ventilator and move his limbs initially seemed unbelievable. Oliver's mother, Laura Staub-Garcia, credited Dr. Bydon for delivering a miracle through his exceptional care.