- Friday, April 26, 2024
By: Keerthi Mohan
PARENTS of a disabled five-year-old will move her to a hospital in Italy today (15) after winning a major legal battle earlier this month.
Shelina Begum and Mohammed Raqeeb will move their daughter Tafida to the Gaslini children’s hospital in Genoa, Italy, from the Royal London Hospital in an air ambulance today.
On October 3, the parents won a legal fight with the Royal London Hospital bosses, who had refused to transfer Tafida to Italy.
Specialists in London had suggested further treatment would be futile because Tafida had permanent brain damage.
Tafida was left brain damaged in February when a blood vessel burst in her brain.
Mr Justice MacDonald ruled in favour of Tafida’s parents after analysing evidence at a High Court trial in London.
The judge was told that the youngster could not swallow, taste, see, breathe for herself, or “experience touch” in large parts of her body.
Shelina told Mail Online that she is aware that even with treatment, Tafida wouldn’t recover fully.
“We aren’t deluded. We know that — even with treatment — Tafida is very unlikely to ever be the same. But this gives her the best chance.
“She was such an energetic, happy girl with a big smile and a huge heart. I don’t know whether she will ever tear around on her bike again with her dad or whirl around the kitchen showing off her ballet steps.
“But I hope and pray that one day she will run into my arms. Just to hear her call me ‘Mummy’ again would be magical.
“Whatever happens — whatever adaptations we have to make — we will bring her home and love her.
“Her life is precious and our love for her is unconditional. It isn’t based on what she can or can’t do.”
