Shivam Sharma Indian teenager suffering from neck injury Country: India

1. Shivam Sharma: A Teenager with a Closed Mouth
2. The Onset of Shivam Sharma's Illness
3. The Unique Surgery that Changed Shivam's Life
4. Life After Surgery

Shivam Sharma: A Teenager with a Closed Mouth

Shivam Sharma, a young man from Uttar Pradesh, India, lived for eight years without opening his mouth. This was not due to Shivam's lack of speech, but rather because his jaws were unable to move properly, a result of a neck injury. The improperly fused bones prevented Shivam from opening his mouth and speaking normally, as well as eating solid food. Now 25 years old, Shivam Sharma's eight-year ordeal is a period he would rather forget.

The Onset of Shivam Sharma's Illness

The story of Shivam Sharma's illness began when he was eleven years old. One day, he fell from a rooftop and injured his neck. Although there were no spinal fractures, his jaw became firmly stuck at the base of his skull. After the initial pain subsided, Shivam attempted to open his mouth but was unsuccessful. Days turned into months, and still, his mouth remained shut. As a result, Shivam spent eight long years unable to eat normally or engage in conversations. He was only able to consume liquid food through a tube. Though communication with Shivam did exist, he found it incredibly difficult to adapt to this new way of life.

The Unique Surgery that Changed Shivam's Life

Finally, a day came when two Indian doctors took on Shivam's case. Dr. Ajay Roychoudhury and Dr. Ongkila Bhutia, from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), reconstructed Shivam's jaw and partially replaced his joints. This surgery had never been performed before, as Shivam's condition was exceptionally rare. According to Dr. Roychoudhury, the lower jaw is one of the most complex joints in the human body, making the procedure extremely challenging. However, the doctors at AIIMS succeeded in helping Shivam Sharma. After the operation, he was able to open his mouth for the first time in eight years. Shivam was overjoyed, as he had grown tired of relying on liquid food through a tube to sustain himself. Apart from the taste experience, Shivam also faced digestive issues due to his limited diet, making the ability to open his mouth a crucial development.

Life After Surgery

Although Shivam's appearance changed slightly after the surgery, he did not expect to return to his pre-injury state. Nevertheless, he feels incredibly happy as he can now speak normally and, most importantly, chew his food. Shivam admitted that in recent years, he constantly felt half-starved and often dreamed of eating regular solid food, a luxury he could only watch others enjoy.