After a landmark High Court ruling allowing a British-Bangladeshi couple to fly their severely disabled five-year-old daughter to an Italian hospital for life-support treatment, her mother has spoken out to thank the doctors of the country.
Shelina Begum revealed that she is seeking Italian citizenship for TafidaRaqeeb, who is now being treated at Gaslini children's hospital in Genoa.
"I visited Tafida, she is stable, she was awake, fully awake, turning her head from side to side," Begum said during a press conference in the Italian city this week.
"I just believe that since Tafida is in Italy it will be wise for her to have Italian citizenship," she said.
Tafida has been in a coma since February after she collapsed at her home in Newham, east London when blood vessels in her brain ruptured. Her parents, 39-year-old Shelina and Mohammed Raqeeb, 45, won a High Court case earlier this month when a judge ruled against UK hospital experts and allowed the couple to move their daughter to Italy.
Specialists at the Royal London Hospital had argued that further treatment would be futile because the youngster had permanent brain damage, was in a minimally conscious state and had no chance of recovery. The family countered that Tafida being from a Muslim family meant that Islamic law said only God could take the decision to end her life.
Judges analysed the evidence and concluded she had a "quality of life" and that the parents must be given a chance to seek further treatment outside the UK.
Relatives and supporters of the family released balloons outside the Royal London hospital as Tafida began her journey earlier this week. She was taken by chartered plane to Italy on Tuesday and on arrival, Begum said the transfer had been "extremely smooth".
She said the family are crowdfunding for Tafida's treatment but the money "should not run out".
"We do have financial sponsors in place. Should we not be able to raise the funds then the financial sponsors will come in and pay for the treatment," she added.