Heartbreaking: Hope (pictured), was
emaciated and riddled with worms when he was discovered naked and
wandering the streets on January 31 by Anja Ringgren Loven, a Danish
woman (pictured right)
A
two-year-old Nigerian boy who was found emaciated and riddled with
worms after his family left him for dead has made an incredible
recovery.
A
picture of the starving toddler being given a sip of water by an aid
worker broke hearts around the world when it was published last month.
The
boy, now called Hope, was abandoned by his family because they thought
he was a witch and was found in the streets by Anja Ringgren Loven, a
Danish woman living in Africa, on January 31.
And
now Ms Loven has shared a series of photographs showing Hope's
miraculous recovery in just eight short weeks, and says he 'is really
enjoying life now'.
Rescued: Hope was
abandoned by his family because they thought he was a witch and was
found in the streets by Anja Ringgren Loven (pictured together)
Back in January, Ms Loven found the boy after he spent eight months fending for himself and living off scraps.
She
bent down and gently began feeding him and giving him water from a
bottle. She then wrapped up the disorientated toddler in a blanket and
took him to the nearest hospital for treatment.
When
Hope reached the hospital, he was given medication to remove the worms
from his stomach and daily blood transfusions to incorporate more red
blood cells into his body, Ms Loven said.
And
two days after the aid worker asked for the community's help with
Hope's costly medical bills, she received $1million in donations from
around the world.
Just
eight weeks later, Hope is unrecognisable. He has gained weight and has
been pictured smiling and playing with other children.
Big smile: Hope looks unrecognisable after gaining weight and he has been pictured smiling for the camera
Photo: Anja Ringgern Loven
'Enjoying life': Hope has gained weight and has been pictured smiling and playing with other children (left)
Healthier: Hope is pictured looking at
a book with two other children. He looks nothing like the starving boy
found by Anja Ringgren Loven, a Danish woman living in Africa, on
January 31
Ms
Loven uploaded new photos of Hope on Saturday, and wrote: 'As you can
see on the pictures, Hope is really enjoying his life now having 35 new
brothers and sisters who ALL take such good care of him, play with him,
study with him, and make sure he is safe and is getting a lot of love.'
But
she explained Hope has hypospadias, a genital birth defect meaning
the urethra emerges somewhere on the shaft or even the base of the
penis, instead of at the tip.
She added: 'The doctors found this inborn condition on Hope, so next week Hope will have surgery.
'This is an operation the doctors have performed many times, so Hope will be very fine.'
Ms Loven is the founder of African Children's Aid Education and Development Foundation,
which she created three years ago to help children who have been
labelled witches and therefore neglected or even killed by the members
of their community.
Care: Ms Loven wrapped up the disorientated toddler in a blanket and took him to the nearest hospital
Treatment: When
Hope reached the hospital, he was given medication to remove the worms
from his belly and daily blood transfusions
Photo: Anja Ringgern Loven
Bath time:
Ms Loven is pictured helping give Hope a bath after he was found walking
the streets starving, disorientated and riddled with worms
'Thousands
of children are being accused of being witches and we've both seen
torture of children, dead children and frightened children,' she wrote
on Facebook, accompanying images of her feeding the young boy and
appealing for donations to help pay for his medical bills in January.
'With
all the money, we can, besides giving Hope the very best treatment, now
also build a doctor clinic on the new land and save many more children
out of torture!' she said.
Ms Loven runs an children's centre where the youngsters she saves live and receives medical care, food and schooling.
She and her husband, David Emmanuel Umem, began building their own orphanage in late January.
Friends: Hope (right) is pictured
sitting with African Children's Aid Education and Development Foundation
education officer, Don Udowan, and Felix, one
Photo: Anja Ringgern Loven
Hair cut: Hope is pictured having his hair cut at the centre in Nigeria after he was rescued on January 31
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