Meet Anaka
Benefiting from multidisciplinary efforts at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital
Anaka’s pain started when she was barely two, when she and her family found themselves in and out of surgeries and doctor’s offices without answers for a femoral nerve that had been damaged during a hernia surgery. This nerve damage was now impacting the growth and strength of her left leg and was so severe that doctors thought Anaka might be permanently disabled.
Anaka’s parents, Hari and Sapna, were losing faith when a friend referred them to a neurologist at UCSF BCH. A multidisciplinary team of doctors came up with a plan to repair the nerve damage. The surgery was a success, and the pain began to subside. At that moment the family’s faith began to grow again.
However this was just the beginning of Anaka’s journey. After undergoing physical therapy, her team decided she was ready for the final step: orthopedic surgery to straighten and lengthen her leg. The surgery employed groundbreaking techniques and new technology. Now, after decades of struggling through her injury, Anaka has started swimming, riding her bike and dancing. Hari and Sapna are in awe of Anaka’s strength, as they watch their child gain confidence and enjoy her life thanks to the doctors and team at UCSF BCH.
“What I find so unique in our program is…it’s always a team approach – she started with neurosurgery, and then came to orthopedics where she had access to rehabilitation, physical therapy and surgery. The fact that Anaka could do all of this in house is amazing.” - Sanjeev Sabharwal, MD, MPH, Anaka’s orthopedic surgeon
