A Danbury doctor is one of the few surgeons across the county who can treat a syndrome that makes it hard to even swallow water from a glass.

Doctors say it’s called median arcuate ligament syndrome, or MALS, and it’s a rare condition when the diaphragm sits too low on the celiac ganglion. It traps the nerves, making digestion extremely painful. 

Dr. Richard Hsu relieves compression and also removes the nerves making digestion extremely painful.

He has performed over 300 of MALS surgeries, and patients have come as far as Australia to see him.

MALS patients from across the country will gather at the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium tomorrow for a dinner to honor the surgeon for everything he’s done for them.