During his appearance with his wife, actress Layaly Nafea Mersal, on the show Ma'akum Mona El Shazly, broadcast on ON and hosted by media personality Mona El Shazly, actor Amir Salah El-Din revealed details of his struggle with a rare and life-threatening condition that nearly ended his life before marriage.
Amir explained that the discovery of his condition happened purely by chance during rehearsals for the film Nawara with actress Menna Shalaby. He was involved in a motorcycle accident, and during the medical scans and tests that followed, doctors discovered a massive brain aneurysm—a rare and potentially fatal condition. Shockingly, the aneurysm measured 2.5 centimeters, whereas most cases typically do not exceed a few millimeters.

Shocking words from the doctor: “If you sneeze, you’ll be paralyzed”
Amir recounted the shock of his diagnosis, saying: “The doctor literally told me, ‘I apologized to my wife about getting married—because you shouldn’t get married. If you sneeze, you might be paralyzed.’” He added, “I had always felt like something was wrong in my head, but I never imagined it was this serious.”
One of the doctors even told him after viewing his scans: “How are you alive? You should have died when you were five or six.” To which Amir responded, “God wants me to live.”

Sky-high treatment costs
Due to the severity of his condition, doctors advised urgent surgery using a technique called “coils,” which involves inserting small coils into the artery to prevent rupture. However, Amir’s case required more than 300 coils, with each one costing about $15,000—bringing the total cost to an astronomical figure that was beyond his means.
Amir commented: “I had just bought an apartment and a car in preparation for marriage. When I told the doctor, he said, ‘Sell everything—because you’re not getting married anyway.’” He added, “But thank God, I did get married.”



A different medical opinion and delaying the surgery
Although seven doctors unanimously recommended immediate surgery, the late Dr. Moataz El-Fiqi offered a different opinion. He advised Amir not to rush into surgery, especially since he had been living with the condition since childhood. The doctor prescribed a specific medication and advised regular monitoring.
Amir eventually underwent the surgery, which was performed in stages—once every six months—until the doctors were fully assured that his condition was stable.

A rare surgery performed by a French expert
Later, Amir consulted Dr. Farouk Hassan, who shared his test results with a leading French expert specializing in rare cases like his. The French doctor confirmed the rarity of Amir’s case and expressed a desire to perform the surgery himself.
He traveled to Egypt and successfully conducted the delicate operation, placing a stent inside the affected artery. The surgery was a success, with no reported complications.

His wife’s support and an extraordinary engagement story
Actress Layaly Nafea Mersal shared that the diagnosis came during their engagement, which made their experience unlike any typical love story. She said, “We spent our engagement period between doctors and consultations—it was a very tough and painful experience.”
She added that Amir chose not to tell his family about the full extent of his condition, instead relying solely on her for support. This decision, she said, deepened their bond and made their relationship far more meaningful and human.

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