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June 20, 2013

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Mauled girl will fly to US for surgery

A four-YEAR-OLD Bolivian girl who was unconscious for nearly three weeks after being mauled in the face and body by a Rottweiler is awake and ready to fly to Boston for reconstructive surgery.

The case of Rosalia, the fifth of seven children of a poor family in a slum outside La Paz, has been closely watched by Bolivians. It also drew the attention of the Boston Children's Hospital, which offered to send a plane and two specialists to pick up the girl, officials in Bolivia said.

On May 24, the girl went to a store with her mother when she was attacked by the store owner's dog. The Rottweiler grabbed her by the head and ripped off a part of her scalp. It also left deep wounds on her face, back and buttocks, according to the doctors who treated her.

Her mother, Regina Pillco, said she couldn't get Rosalia out of the dog's jaws because she was carrying a newborn on her back.

The girl's father, Agustin Apaza, is formally unemployed and earns money calling out buses in the public transportation system. He will accompany Rosalia to Boston.

Rosalia was unconscious and wrapped in bandages until June 12, when she woke up, asked for her mother and began crying.

On Tuesday, Dr Alfredo Rodriguez, head of intensive care at the Bolivian children's hospital, said Rosalia is now well enough to travel.

Authorities in Bolivia said they expect the plane from the Boston hospital to arrive today.



 

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