Modern medicine has made incredible advances over the years, and perhaps no story highlights its power more than that of Megan King. Her journey is one of unimaginable pain, perseverance, and a stunning triumph of the human spirit.
Megan’s story began when she was just 16 years old. Like many teenagers, she enjoyed playing sports and staying active. But during a game of football, one simple jump for the ball turned tragic. She fell, severely injuring her ankle and spine, and tearing muscles from both of her shoulder blades. It was a life-changing moment, and though no one could have predicted just how serious it would become, Megan’s life would never be the same.
Now 35 and living in Illinois, Megan has opened up about her harrowing experience with a rare condition and an almost unimaginable injury known as internal decapitation. While complete decapitation is always fatal, internal decapitation — or atlanto-occipital dislocation, as it is called in medical terms — is a condition in which the skull separates from the spine internally. According to Real Clear Science, it has a survival rate of just 30 percent, making it one of the most dangerous injuries a person can suffer.
Megan’s health issues didn’t end with the initial injury. For nearly two decades, she battled a series of medical complications that confused and frustrated doctors. Despite undergoing 22 surgeries, her body simply didn’t heal the way it was supposed to. Over time, her mobility worsened, and her daily life became increasingly difficult. It wasn’t until 2015 that she was finally diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), a rare genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to produce collagen — a critical component in connective tissues. People with hEDS often experience joint instability, chronic pain, and frequent injuries. While some individuals with hEDS have hyperflexibility, Megan’s condition did the opposite. Her body began to lock up, gradually stealing her ability to move.
As her condition deteriorated, Megan had to undergo emergency neck surgery. To stabilize her head and neck, doctors placed her in a halo brace — a device that uses screws drilled into the skull to keep it aligned with the spine. This brace is usually worn for months, sometimes longer, depending on the severity of the injury. However, in Megan’s case, a doctor removed the halo prematurely. That decision would change everything.
Without the support of the halo, Megan’s skull separated from her spine. She described the horrifying moment in an interview with The Daily Mail. “I flew my chair back to keep gravity from decapitating me,” she said. “My neurosurgeon had to hold my skull in place with his hands. I couldn’t stand. My right side was shaking uncontrollably. It was a horror show. I woke up unable to move my head at all.”
This terrifying moment marked the beginning of a new chapter in her medical journey. Over the following months, Megan underwent 15 more surgeries. Her spine was eventually fused completely — from the base of her skull all the way down to her pelvis. The result? She can no longer turn her head, bend her back, or twist her torso. “I’m literally a human statue,” Megan explained. “My spine doesn’t move at all. But that doesn’t mean I’ve stopped living.”
Her words reflect a resilience and determination that is nothing short of inspiring. Despite the severe limitations her body now faces, Megan continues to push forward and embrace life in whatever ways she can. She refuses to be defined solely by her condition. Even something as simple as going to a bowling alley became a powerful symbol of her strength and courage. It had been years — nearly two decades — since she had last bowled, but she was ready to try again. What happened next was nothing short of magical.
“I bowled a strike on my very first try,” she recalled. “My friends screamed and clapped and cheered like wild. They weren’t just celebrating the strike. They were celebrating everything I’ve survived.”
Moments like these are rare, but for Megan, they’re reminders of what’s still possible. Though she can’t move like she once did, and though pain and recovery are still part of her daily life, she’s learning how to live again — with a new body, a new perspective, and an unbreakable will.
Adjusting to her physical limitations hasn’t been easy, but Megan remains open to discovering what she’s capable of. She constantly adapts, constantly learns, and constantly finds new ways to connect with life around her. “It’s not easy,” she admitted. “But I’m always surprised by what I can still accomplish.”
Her story is a powerful testament to the human spirit — to resilience, hope, and the power of never giving up. In the face of a terrifying injury and a rare, life-altering diagnosis, Megan King chose to fight. She chose to keep living, to keep trying, and to keep believing in herself.
And in doing so, she’s become a symbol of strength for others facing unimaginable challenges. Through it all — the pain, the surgeries, the loss of mobility — Megan has remained a beacon of courage and inspiration. Her journey reminds us that even when life knocks us down in the most brutal ways, we still have the power to rise, to heal, and to live boldly — even when the odds are stacked against us.
