A baby girl born extremely prematurely is now breathing and feeding independently after months of coordinated rehabilitation at SEHA’s Salma Rehabilitation Hospital, the facility has reported.

Alyazia arrived at the hospital requiring extensive medical support, including help with breathing and feeding, and was behind on several developmental milestones. Clinicians placed her on a multidisciplinary care plan spanning paediatrics, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and recreational support.

Over several months, her condition improved steadily. She progressed from respiratory support and tube feeding to breathing unaided and feeding orally, while also showing measurable gains in motor skills and communication appropriate to her developmental stage.

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Dr Ali Rishwan Ali Zalat, a specialist in paediatrics at SEHA’s Salma Rehabilitation Hospital, said Alyazia had arrived as a fragile premature baby needing help with basic functions. “Today, she is breathing independently, feeding orally, and growing more steadily,” he said, adding that her case underlined the value of early intervention and coordinated rehabilitation for children with complex medical needs.

Physiotherapist Rosanna Pelayo said Alyazia’s early treatment combined play-based therapy with exercises targeting gross and fine motor development, adjusted for her corrected age. She said the sessions also worked on postural stability and general movement responses, helping drive the girl’s gradual functional recovery.

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Hospital officials said the case illustrates how early, integrated rehabilitation can support children with medically complex starts in life towards stronger growth outcomes and a safer discharge home. They pointed to it as an example of the specialised, family-centred care SEHA’s Salma Rehabilitation Hospital provides to children with complex conditions.