Tafida Raqeeb, five, was flown for treatment in Genoa in October after a historic court case in which a judge ruled against NHS bosses who said she was brain dead.
Delighted mum Shelina Begum yesterday revealed Tafida now spends around three hours a day off a ventilator.
She said: “The doctors in London told the court that Tafida would die if she was taken off the ventilator.
“But she didn’t die and now Tafida is being gradually weaned off the ventilator.”
Italian doctors are so pleased with her progress that yesterday she was moved from intensive care in the neuro ward to a rehabilitation unit in the grounds of the world-famous Gaslini children’s hospital.
Solicitor Shelina, 40, said: “Tafida is proving that the medical opinion in England and her prognosis was wrong.
“In fact, she continues to improve and in the following months we hope to say more about how she is doing.’’
Tafida was born with an undetected rare condition known as arteriovenous malformation, or AVM, in which veins and arteries become abnormally tangled at the back of the brain.
‘CONTINUES TO IMPROVE’
In February last year, those veins ruptured — causing a massive bleed. Medics at the Royal London Hospital decided Tafida’s condition was “end of life”.
In October, NHS chiefs asked the High Court to rule that Tafida’s breathing tube should be taken out and the little girl allowed to die.
But a judge decided her parents should be allowed to fly her to the Italian hospital where doctors believed she was not “end of life” — but needed more time for the brain to heal itself.
Sun readers backed Tafida’s parents. It was the first time a UK court has allowed a child to be taken abroad against the wishes of the NHS.
And yesterday doctors at the Gaslini Institute announced the news of Tafida’s improvement after just 12 weeks.
Dr Andrea Moscatelli revealed she was “no longer in danger”.
He said fluid on Tafida’s brain had been drained and doctors carried out a tracheotomy to assist her breathing.
She also underwent a procedure to help with her eating.
Dr Moscatelli explained these were all procedures which would hopefully prevent any long-term complications and eventually help her to return home.
He added: “She has been stabilised from the neurological point of view and as a result her breathing has improved.
“The little girl is able to breathe on her own.
‘NO LONGER IN DANGER’
“We have been able to continue the programme of care as agreed with the High Court in London.
‘’She can now move onto the next stage of treatment, which is not so intense, with the ultimate objective being able to return her home to her family.
“Elements that were troubling her have now been removed.’’
Dad Mohammed, 45, from Plaistow, East London said: “The medical staff put Tafida on a buggy which means that, at last, she can be moved outside which was always our dream for her.”
Construction consultant Mohammed, who is in the UK working, watched via a video call on his phone as Tafida was moved from the intensive care department to a nearby rehab unit.
There she will receive the most advanced rehabilitation techniques and hydrotherapy to get her muscles moving again.
Mohammed added: “For nearly a year she has been cooped up in a room. Now she is in a buggy, we will be able to take her outdoors and stimulate her brain.”
The Gaslini hospital has its own beach — so Shelina and Mohammed will be able to take their daughter down to the sea to feel the water on her toes.
Tafida arrived in Genoa on October 16 on board a private jet chartered by the hospital.
The doctors said even then they were confident she would eventually be able to go home to be looked after by her family.
Mohammed said yesterday: “There is still a long way to go but now she is out of intensive care we on the right path and going in the right direction.”
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