Toddler attacked by neighbor girl in Chongqing making progress

Li Shuyong plays with his son, Yuanyuan, 2, of Chongqing, on Tuesday at Beijing United Family Rehabilitation Hospital. Yuanyuan was brutally assaulted by a girl in November. He suffered brain injuries and still has trouble maintaining his balance and moving his left wrist. Wang Jing / China Daily

The family of a toddler who is recovering from a brutal attack by a neighbor girl is trying to put the tragedy behind them. But they are finding it difficult to do.

"It would be too hard for me to say that I won't hate the girl or her family," said Zeng Yan, the victim's mother.

On Nov 25, Li Xinyuan, 2, was taken to hospital after being viciously attacked by the 11-year-old girl in an elevator in the southwest municipality.

The toddler suffered fractures to the right side of his skull and right eye socket, and he underwent brain surgery in December.

Since May 27, the boy, known as Yuanyuan, has been receiving rehabilitative treatment at Beijing United Family Rehabilitation Hospital.

A team of eight medical staff has been working with the toddler during the treatment, which will last two months and includes speech and physical therapy.

The treatment will cost 400,000 yuan ($64,200), and is being paid by a foundation affiliated with the United Family group.

Yuanyuan's chief physician, Chen Yaping, said the boy's condition is now stable and his recovery is "way beyond the original expectations".

"A neurosurgeon we invited for consultation a few days ago said he was surprised that Yuanyuan could be in such good condition," Chen said.

In the treatment room, Yuanyuan, who wore leg braces, walked quickly and sometimes ran. But his brain injuries have made him unable to move his left wrist adequately and also affected the left side of his body. He also cannot keep his balance properly.

While continuing the treatment for the boy, the hospital is also providing help to his parents.

Wendy Huang, the hospital's general manager, said: "Yuanyuan's parents are brave but sometimes overly concerned. They are anxious and worry about the future. It is understandable. But if they live in anxiety, the baby will, too."

"Parents' recovery can be more difficult than the child's," Huang said.

Chen, the boy's physician, said meetings with the parents are held regularly, during which the parents are encouraged to look on the positive side.

The parents are also asked not to assume that everything is linked to the incident and are urged to treat Yuanyuan like any other child.

The parents were both migrant workers in Chongqing, but since the attack they have been looking their son full time.

Before arriving in Beijing, Yuanyuan received rehabilitative treatment in Chongqing. The family of the girl accused of attacking the toddler paid 78,000 yuan for his treatment, but the total cost of treatment in Chongqing was more than 300,000 yuan. The rest was paid with donations from netizens.

The girl, surnamed Li, has not been detained or charged because of her age, Chongqing police said. It is still unclear why she attacked the toddler.