A man in the central Anatolian province of Konya is still alive thanks to a traffic accident, which allowed doctors to discover and immediately operate on a life-threatening cardiac disease.
Rüstem Özdemir, 36, got involved in a traffic accident on Feb. 10, which resulted in several broken ribs and bones. He was taken to the nearby Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine Hospital. When he woke up, he told the doctors about a pain in his chest. After examination, the doctors found that his aorta vein had expanded to a life-threatening 10 centimeters and that it was a miracle he was alive. Cardiac Surgeon Professor Mehmet Öç said after a six-hour operation, Özdemir's aorta was replaced.
Speaking after the operation, Özdemir said: "I'm reborn." Öç, speaking to reporters, said Özdemir's condition was caused primarily due to smoking, describing his heart as a ticking "bomb." "Patients' hearts are usually in such a state at old age. It is really rare for someone so young to have this. It is truly a miracle for him to still be alive. His was one of the most risky operations I have ever performed."
Özdemir said what he had gone through after the accident was like a dream. "I never thought something like this could ever happen. I feel like the traffic accident was a blessing. From now on, I will never smoke or drink alcohol."