12-Year-Old Yemeni Girl Recovers After Rare Bladder Surgery in Pune
12-Year-Old Yemeni Girl Recovers After Rare Bladder Surgery in Pune ( Image Credit: Peepo, Getty Images)
PUNE: A 12-year-old girl from Yemen, who was born with a spinal defect that left her unable to control her bladder and bowel movements, has fully recovered after undergoing advanced treatment in Pune. She had been living with a condition called meningomyelocele since birth, which caused severe complications and impacted her daily life.
According to the Times of India, she came to India in July 2024 and received treatment at Inamdar Multispeciality Hospital. To regain control over her bladder and bowel, doctors performed a rare technique termed sacral neuromodulation, which is also referred to as a urinary bladder pacemaker. Dr R.K. Shimpi, a senior urologist and robotic surgeon at the hospital, performed the procedure.
The girl was in a serious state prior to her arrival in India. She had chronic kidney illness, renal osteodystrophy, and frequent UTIs in addition to the spinal defect. She was unable to attend regular school and was being home-schooled due to her health and social challenges.
She arrived in India in July 2024, and her treatment began with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), a technique taught to her mother at the hospital. This helped improve her kidney function and reduced infections. In August 2024, doctors carried out a trial procedure using an external device, which showed a 70% improvement in her symptoms. Following this success, a permanent device was implanted on August 20, 2024.
Following the procedure, the girl was placed in a comprehensive recovery programme that included pelvic floor physical therapy, bladder training, and psychological counselling to help her cope with her new condition. To restore contact between the brain and pelvic organs, the implanted device sends mild electrical signals to lower back nerves.
By January 2025, the girl was able to join a regular school for the first time, enrolling in Class V. In April 2025, doctors declared her fully recovered. Dr Shimpi told TOI, “It’s not just about urine control; it’s about giving this child her life back. Meningomyelocele is a preventable condition often linked to folic acid deficiency during pregnancy, but when it happens, early intervention can be lifesaving.”
The girl’s mother stated, “We had almost given up hope. Watching my daughter live in isolation and shame was heartbreaking, but Dr Shimpi and his team changed our lives. Today, she talks about going to school again, and her eyes shine with hope.”
