S. Africa cloned skin recipient to leave hospital

Burn survivor, Isabella "Pippie" Kruger is comforted by her mother Anice, as she recovers from surgery after undergoing a skin transplant operation two weeks ago in Johannesburg, Tuesday June 26, 2012. Kruger became the recipient of pioneering surgery when her burnt skin was layered with cloned skin grown from her own cells in a US laboratory. It was the first operation of it's kind in South Africa. Kruger suffered 3rd degree burns to 80 per cent of her body on New Year's eve when a gel firelighter exploded while her father was preparing a barbecue. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

Burn survivor, Isabella "Pippie" Kruger is comforted by her mother Anice, as she recovers from surgery after undergoing a skin transplant operation two weeks ago in Johannesburg, Tuesday June 26, 2012. Kruger became the recipient of pioneering surgery when her burnt skin was layered with cloned skin grown from her own cells in a US laboratory. It was the first operation of it's kind in South Africa. Kruger suffered 3rd degree burns to 80 per cent of her body on New Year's eve when a gel firelighter exploded while her father was preparing a barbecue. (AP Photo/Denis Farrell)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? A surgeon says a 3-year-old South African girl who received a cloned skin transplant is likely to discharged from the hospital next week.

Dr. Ridwan Mia, the surgeon who attached Isabella Kruger's skin, said Tuesday that the toddler is now breathing on her own and "doing very well."

Isabella, better known by her nickname Pippie, suffered third-degree burns on more than 80 percent of her body following an accident at a family barbecue.

Earlier this month, doctors attached the skin, which was cloned in Boston using mouse cells as a scaffold.

Pippie has now started to eat baby food and even chicken after months of using feeding tubes.

Mia says Pippie will need daily therapy in the months to come, including physiotherapy to strengthen her muscles.

Associated Press

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