(Photos courtsey of Mohammed Belal)
Elham Asaad Buaras
A Birmingham-based surgeon made history in November when he became the first paralysed surgeon in the UK to operate. Mohammed Belal uses a specially adapted wheelchair at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he has worked for 11 years.
The 48-year-old is one of only a few surgeons in the world who have returned to operate after being paralysed.
He returned to work on November 8. 21 months after being paralysed. He underwent multiple spinal operations, spent eight months in the hospital, and completed 1,000 hours of rehab.
Ironically, as a leading neuro-urology surgeon, he regularly treats patients with spinal injuries similar to those he sustained in a freak cycling accident.
The dad-of-three was riding through Berkswell in 2021 when he was hit by a fallen tree. He spoke to The Muslim News about his road to recovery.
“We were going pretty fast, and suddenly I saw the tree coming down in front of me; I knew I wasn’t going to miss it. I woke up, tried to move, and couldn’t feel anything from the waist down. I know spinal injuries very well because I have been taking care of those patients and their bladders for many years. I realised straight away that I was paralysed and visualised myself in a wheelchair.”
Belal said his attitude towards being paralysed was one of acceptance. “The feeling of waking up paralysed was one of acceptance. I visualised myself in a wheelchair and thought to myself that it would be a long journey. And I think that my faith as a Muslim was important in helping me overcome my injury. In the Qur’an, Allah proclaims that he will not burden you more than you can bear,”
he said.
Belal believes he is a better doctor as a result of his experience. “The accident has made me a better surgeon as I truly understand what the patient is going through. It has improved my communication and understanding,” he said.
“I feel positive as I’ve been overwhelmed by the support I’ve had, and while it’s about accepting, I am privileged, and it’s about not giving up.”
Belal, who has performed at least 15 operations since returning to work, said, “It is so nice to be helping others and gratifying. The hardest is the physical challenge of using the special chair all day and building up my tolerance and strength so that I can operate it all day.”
His advice to anyone who has recently been paralysed is to keep a positive outlook; “being paralysed is the start of a new journey, not the end. Always staying positive help and coming back to work will help your mental well-being.
Take your time, and be patient and kind to yourself. Gratitude and patience are so important to guide you back after a catastrophic injury. Allah is with those who are patient.”
