Posted on 12/11/2004 2:53:06 PM PST by naturalman1975
MANNY Musu, the little girl who survived the bomb attack on the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, is likely to go home for Christmas.
Speaking from Manny's hospital bedside in Verona, Italy, her devoted "Papa", Manuel Musu, said it would be a dream come true to bring Manny, 5, home from Borgo Trento Hospital.
"Hopefully, the doctors will let her come home at Christmas for two or three days," he said. "It's been very hard since September, but we are trying to look forward towards the future. I really want the best for my daughter."
Manny received near-fatal injuries in the September 9 attack that killed her Indonesian mother and nine others.
Manny had been granted Australian citizenship nine days earlier and was at the embassy to pick up her passport.
Pieces of shrapnel remain in her brain and abdomen. She has suffered some brain damage.
The death of her mother, Maria Eva Kumalawati, sparked a tug of war between Manny's Sydney-based biological father, policeman David Norman, and Mr Musu, who was married to Manny's mother and had raised her since birth.
Mr Norman, who would not comment this week, decided to give up the custody fight, allowing Manny to return to Italy from hospital in Singapore in October.
Indonesian Cicilia Esti Rahayu said her niece was glad to be in Verona.
"She's very happy here with Manuel," the aunty said.
Mr Musu said Manny's health was slowly improving, but she still could not walk.
He said Manny was receiving 30 minutes of physiotherapy a day, with her right side particularly weak.
Manny this week used her left hand to draw a special Christmas message to Australians.
"Unfortunately the hospital is not really organised for physiotherapy," he said. "We are trying to find a better structure or place where Manuela can receive better treatment, or maybe we will pay a private tutor."
Mr Musu said Manny would have major head surgery in March. She also would have operations on her abdomen, ear drum and back.
"Because of (the) fire in the attack and because of operations, there are some zones on her head where hair will not grow again," Mr Musu said. "There are many scars on her body."
He said Manny also was receiving help to overcome psychological trauma -- particularly the loss of her mother.
"Manuela is showing good progress, but doctors say we must be prudent because she is only five and we will never know what's in her mind on some occasions," he said.
"I hope she will remain strong enough to face the future when she will go home definitely and go to school."
Manny keeps a photograph of her mother at her bedside.
Mr Musu, a security guard, thanked Australians for their support.
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