Baby girl whose head swelled to three times its normal size undergoes third successful skull remodelling operation

Before: Abdul Rahman holds his 18-month-old daughter in front of their home before her operation

Roona's mother Fatima said her daughter was responding to the treatment and showing changes in her behaviour, including playing for the first time.
'We are looking forward to taking Roona back home so she can start her life as a normal child,' she said.

A baby girl whose head swelled to an estimated three times its normal size has undergone a third skull remodelling procedure today.
In the latest bout of surgery, Roona Begum's skull was painstakingly reconstructed during a four-hour operation.
Drastic draining of the fluid on her brain - which caused her skull to balloon - had left her head severely disfigured.

Mother's love: Fatima Khatoon, 24 plays with her daughter. Roona Begum, aged 18 months, suffers from hydrocephalus, a build up of fluid inside the skull

But the third in a succession of Cranial Vault Remodelling operations is hoped to have finally given her head a more spherical appearance.
Dr Sandeep Vaishya, Director of Neurosurgery at Fortis Hospital in Gurgoan, near Delhi, carried out the latest operations.
He said: 'This may well be the last of a series required in the current phase.'
It is too early to tell what - if any - surgery Roona may still need to undergo, with doctors expected to keep her in hospital for observation for the foreseeable future.
The toddler, whose extreme case of hydrocephalus made headlines around the world, has been making steady progress since her admission to the private hospital, near Delhi, in mid April.
The family were only able to travel to Delhi and to proceed with life-saving treatment for baby Roona thanks to an online campaign and donations from philanthropists around the world.
At the beginning of the month total costs were estimated to have been around £36,000 and were expected to climb further as Roona's recovery will require close medical care.

Painstaking: It is the third skull reconstruction operation baby Roona has undergone

The toddler's parents, Abdul Rahman and Fatima Khatoon, whose daily income is around £2, made an appeal for more donations to help them cover the growing costs of Roon'as treatment and care.
A string of procedures has drastically helped reduce her staggering 37in head circumference.
Doctors finally declared her life was no longer at risk at the end of May, allowing reconstructive surgery to begin.
And while the 20-month old's future still remains unclear, doctors reported promising signs earlier this week.
Dr Vaishya had said: 'Given the complexities of the case, the prognosis is much better than expected and baby Roona is responding well to the treatment protocol.

Prep: Baby Roona, pictured on her way into surgery in a Delhi hospital, underwent her third successful skull reconstruction following treatment to drain fluid form the brain

'She is reacting to stimuli and showing signs of cognition.'
Roona's devoted mum Fatima, 24, said ahead of the surgery today: 'Roona is responding to the treatment and there are changes in her behaviour as earlier she was playing with us.
'I get afraid and feel sad when I look at the scars that are there after the surgery.
'I know it's for her own good but as a mother it's difficult for me to see this little girl going through all these operations.
'We are looking forward to taking Roona back home so she can start her life as a normal child.'
Roona's poverty stricken parents from Tripura in northern India have been touched by the generous global donations - without which they could never have afforded their daughters vital treatment.
Father Abdul added: 'To all those who have helped Roona, thank you.'

Surgery: She underwent surgery last month, but her parents - whose daily income is just £2 a day - are struggling to foot the shortfall left by a string of complex procedures

Family: Dr. Sandeep Vaishya, left, removes the bandages from Roona's head

Doctors have already said that the youngster is lucky to be alive, with most sufferers of the condition not surviving beyond a year old.
Director of neurosurgery Dr Vaishya, who has personally cared for Roona,  admits there are still challenges ahead.

He previously said: 'We did not expect Roona to survive this long. We had a lot of worries initially.

'The treatment has gone much better than initially expected.'

 

The head size was reduced by about 30cm (12ins) and has come down to around 54cm (21ins) after the first series of treatments and operations.

Doctors hope their treatments will reduce the head size by a further 10cm (4ins).
'Her case has been very challenging as we don't have any precedent to fall back on and nobody to guide you at any step. We have kept on reinventing ourselves everyday according to the situation,' Dr Vaishya said.

'Now we really don't expect much danger as her wounds are healing and she has also started eating orally.

Roona's improved condition has also led her estranged grandparents, who initially rejected the "abnormal" child, to check up on her health - delighting both parents.
Father Abdul Rahman said: 'Since the medical treatment started we have received a few calls from my parents and they do inquire about Roona.
'This makes me happy as earlier they refused to accept her as their granddaughter because of her head size - but thanks to every one who helped us Roona is going to have her grandparents.
'There is a lot of difference in her head size than before and we are very happy about it.
'The doctors and everyone here at the hospital have done their best to help us and I hope everything ends soon so that we can have our daughter back.'