Abu Dhabi: Loujain's weekend homecoming was a bittersweet affair, as she and her family struggled to accept the events that led to her three-week hospitalisation, her older brother revealed to Gulf News.
"We were so happy to see her well and back home but we are worried because it seems that Loujain is having trouble [reconciling with] what happened to her," Mahran Hussain, 22, an Iranian expatriate, said.
"Loujain is withdrawn but we do see glimmers of her old personality from time to time… we are just hoping and praying that she will one day return to the Loujain we knew before the attack," he added.
The 11-year-old sustained serious injuries, including a brain haemorrhage caused when a previously undiagnosed congenital condition called arteriovenous malformation or AVM and an aneurysm, an enlarged artery caused by a weakened blood vessel, ruptured. She also suffered heavy bruising.
She was treated at the Shaikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC).
"We are worried because she has trouble seeing things out of her left eye… that is causing her to stumble and so she needs someone to help guide her so she does not hurt herself," Mahran said.
"A doctor examined her on Thursday before she was discharged… but has said that for now, we have to wait and see. Loujain has also been scheduled for some tests this week… hopefully, the results will be positive for her," he added.
‘Elbowed harshly'
The grade seven pupil at Al Ma'ali International Private School was allegedly beaten up by a group of grade four pupils nearly three weeks ago. The incident, which took place during break time at the school, appeared to be triggered when a friend of Loujain's accidentally stumbled into one of the boys.
"She remembers some details of what happened to her… such as being elbowed harshly by one of the boys," Maha Abdul Kader, her mother, said. Her family has also expressed their concern over the sudden spasms that rack Loujain's body at seemingly random intervals.
"She was given some medication… but over the weekend, we began noticing these tremors… my parents are following up with her doctors to see what is causing them and how to treat them," Mahran said.
As Loujain continues her recovery at home, her parents are adamant she will not return to the school.
"I will never allow her to return to that place… we will find a way to arrange it so Loujain can catch up on her studies and take any exam at home," Hussain Abdullah, her father, said.
Mahran said they planned to approach the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), which is currently investigating the incident with the Abu Dhabi police.
"When Dr Mugheer [Khamis Al Khaili, Adec's director general], visited Loujain on Thursday before she was discharged, he told us that if we needed any help we could approach him. My parents hope to meet him and find a solution for her studies, such as arranging for her to be home-schooled," he said.
