After fighting against all odds, abandoned and abused baby Falak is likely to be discharged in a week's time from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here, a doctor said Friday. The doctors hope the 2-year-old will not be vegetative if given proper care.
"She has recovered very nicely in terms of infections she had in the body. In a week's time, she will be discharged," Deepak Agrawal, assistant professor of neurosurgery at the AIIMS Trauma Centre, said.
The toddler has been battling for survival at AIIMS for over 50 days after she was abandoned with a fractured skull, bruises and human bite marks all over her body. Falak has undergone five life-saving surgeries. The 14-year-old girl who left her at the hospital is now in a juvenile care home.
The agony does not end here as doctors say it will be an uphill task to get the baby out of vegetative state through physiotherapy and emotional care.
"Proper rehabilitation and physiotherapy will improve her condition, but severe brain injury can't be undone. We are hoping she does not remain vegetative," added Agrawal, who has been in the team of doctors monitoring the baby since the beginning.
The traumatised baby was reunited with her mother and two siblings, but a larger question looms over her fate. The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) is the legal guardian of the baby, say doctors.
"The CWC is the legal guardian according to some sections of the law. Before the baby is discharged, we want someone from the CWC to come and understand what kind of care the baby needs," Agrawal said.
The CWC works for children in need of care and protection. Through shelter homes, the CWC would be taking care of the baby's needs - emotional and medical.
"If that is not done, we will be back to square one," he said.