Iliadis Moved by 14-Year-Old from Kefalonia

Andreas Iliadis, director of the Pediatric ICU at the Rio hospital, described the touching moments when the 14-year-old from Kefalonia was extubated.

The 14-year-old, who had contracted an enterovirus that caused paralysis, opened her eyes and asked to hug the doctors and nurses.

"She gestured with her hand, we approached, she opened her arms as much as she could and hugged us," Mr. Iliadis told ANT1.

The 14-year-old was hospitalized for 10 days and was extubated on August 15th. The enterovirus caused inflammation of the central nervous system (acute idiopathic polyneuritis), a rare syndrome that causes reversible paralysis.

Her transfer to the hospital was by helicopter from Kefalonia, which landed in Araxos.

Mr. Iliadis mentioned that they collaborated with EODY to identify the virus.