Malala Yousafzai, Taliban Shooting Victim, Able to Stand and Communicate
The Taliban has seemingly failed in its attempt to silence 14-year-old activist Malala Yousafzai. Doctors have announced that the teen is able to write, stand with assistance, and is "well enough that she's agreed for [doctors] to share more clinical detail," Dr. Dave Rosser said today.
"She is also keen that I thank people for their support and their interest because she is obviously aware of the amount of interest and support this has generated around the world," Rosser said. "She is not out of the woods yet. Having said that, she's doing very well. In fact, she was standing with some help for the first time this morning when I went in to see her."
Yousafzai was critically injured when the Taliban ordered the 14-year-old blogger and activist assassinated. Yousafzai spoke and wrote about the oppression under the regime, angering Taliban members. She was shot in the head and neck while on the way home from school on Oct. 9.
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Pakistani officials decided to move her to the United Kingdom for further, more specialized, treatment. It was also a safety measure for Yousafzai, should the Taliban wish to try and hurt the young girl again. Her family has remained behind in Pakistan, but doctors say that they have been in constant contact.
Even though Yousafzai is only able to communicate via writing, since she has a tracheotomy tube in her throat, Rosser said he had "no reason to believe that she would not be able to talk once this tube is out, maybe in the next few days. She seems able to understand; she's got motor control and she's able to write."
"Whether there's any subtle intellectual or memory deficits down the line is too early to say," Rosser warned. "It is possible she will make a smooth recovery, but it is impossible to tell I'm afraid."
The Taliban has been upset over the coverage of the shooting, demanding that Pakistani reporters provide "equal and unbiased" coverage of the event.
Police have arrested three people in connection with the shooting but have not learned who actually ordered the shooting of Yousafzai.
