Czech Republic: Arson victim turns 4 , doctors consider her state of health miraculous

Natálka Kudriková, the infant who was severely burned when arsonists attacked her home in Vítkov, is experiencing her first contact with other children after two years spent exclusively at home or in hospital. She celebrated her fourth birthday yesterday at nursery school. Czech Television reports Natálka needs an assistant and special care in order to participate.

Natálka should attend nursery school for a full morning session starting in September, but even that is not yet certain - next week she will be monitored at the hospital once more and she may undergo yet another demanding operation this summer. For now she spends an hour at nursery school every day. Even though she does not speak to anyone, she communicates nonetheless. "She says with gestures, non-verbally, what she wants or what toy she wants to borrow," Simona Novotná, director of the nursery school in Budišov, told Czech Television.

Natálka's peers have had to have their parents and teachers explain to them why the new little girl is different. "Why she has so many injuries, why she is missing fingers, questions like that," her mother, Anna Siváková said.

Doctors say Natálka will need both pedagogical and personal assistance. Her progress in treatment has pleased the burn doctors who have been caring for the girl for more than two years: "Basically a small miracle has taken place... back then no one could have imagined she could take part in normal life," Iva Zámečníková of the Burn Center at the Ostrava Teaching Hospital told Czech Television.