Lion attack girl goes home
2008-10-08 10:03
Johannesburg - Courtney Sparrow, 8, who nearly died after two lions attacked her in Zimbabwe, was on Tuesday released from hospital.
Only a few days ago, she underwent major surgery lasting nearly four hours at Netcare Milpark hospital to transplant a piece of bone, about the size of a woman's palm, to the left-hand side of her forehead. Her injured cerebral membrane was also repaired.
After the operation on Friday, which went well, Courtney was moved from the high care unit to a normal ward. A drain was removed on Tuesday morning and Courtney's doctors said she was provisionally free to go, although several cosmetic operations lie ahead, to repair, amongst others, her brow.
They will also have to work on damaged nerves near her left eye and a lachrymal gland that was destroyed.
Courtney, her parents Ron and Margaret and sister Savanna, 6, are staying temporarily with friends in Johannesburg.
Courtney recounted the attack on September 16 on the family's farm in Zimbabwe. She said she wanted to climb over a gate, when a second lion attacked her. Moments earlier, another lion had pulled her through the window of an empty, fenced house.
The lions had grabbed her right arm, throat, stomach and head when the family's gardener, Benji Twele, saved her by chasing off the lions.
Twele picked up the piece of skull lying on the scene and ensured that it reached the hospital in Zimbabwe. It was then brought to South Africa.
Her mother said she could not forget the sight of Twele standing with a bloodied Courtney in his arms.
Courtney's father said he had shot both lions.
People who wanted to help with Courtney's medical bills could call 0860 638 2273.