7-Y-O burn victim opens eyes after first phase of treatment

Seven-year-old burn victim Shaniya Persaud opened her eyes Wednesday after her first phase of treatment at the Shriners Hospital, Galveston Texas in the United States.

The little girl is also now in a stable condition after she underwent surgery to remove damaged tissues about her body on Monday last.

The Rotary Club of Demerara in collaboration with a non-governmental organisation – Saving Hands Emergency Aid (SHEA) – successfully raised the US$42,000 to evacuate the little girl.

SHEA in a social media post said Shaniya opened her eyes and recognized her mother. The organization said the little girl was in great spirits and was scheduled to undergo surgery to graft her face and legs.

Shaniya received second and third-degree burns to approximately 97.8% of her body when her North Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara house went up in flames at around 01:00hrs on August 5, while she was asleep.

The brave little girl walked out of the burning house, with her skin almost burnt off and her feet bleeding with cuts.

Shaniya was medivac from the Georgetown Public Hospital on August 10 to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport where she boarded a chartered flight to the US.

Shaniya is being treated free of cost at the Shriners Hospital. The hospital is said to be one of the best children’s medical facilities to treat burns.