This operation will not be the one to give her brain the protective cover it needs, but one to fix a more urgent problem that her doctors have spotted.

The base of her brain has been squeezed into her backbone, blocking the normal flow of fluid down the spine. The fluid is thus forcing itself into her spinal cord, damaging the nerves and tissues there.

Read Salma Khalik's full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.