ONE of the newest members of the Destiny House family is progressing in leaps and bounds since joining the facility in May.
The 18-month-old child, whose identity cannot be revealed for her own protection, spent most of her life in hospital after she was abandoned in an outside toilet as a newborn.
The child was rescued within 24 hours of her birth and was, miraculously, alive, although gravely ill.
She was taken to hospital where she spent the following 15 months undergoing a variety of treatments.
The initial infection was dealt with quickly, but the child’s eyes had been severely affected from the chemicals in the toilet.
She is completely blind in her left eye and doctors are trying to save her right eye, or at least give her as much sight as possible.
The first operation was performed during her stay in hospital, with the follow-up procedure done in July this year after her move to Destiny House.
The operation, which included cutting her iris slightly to let in more light, went as well as can be expected and the paediatric ophthalmologist is hopeful she will be a candidate for a cornea transplant in the future.
‘Since she has come to Destiny House, the child has made good progress, but is slower than others her age, possibly owing to insufficient stimulation while in hospital,’ said Destiny House Centre Manager Esther Hurter,
‘Since her eye operation, she is crawling towards objects, which is a big step forward and gives us hope that she will regain some vision.’
This child may have had the most difficult start in life, but despite all odds, she is happy and healthy with a bright future ahead of her.
