A six-year-old girl who needed over 1,000 stitches after a horrific dog attack "won't be able to smile again."
Lily Norton, from Maine, US, was flown to Boston for emergency surgery after she was mauled by a pit bull at her neighbour's house on February 18.
The toddler suffered wounds under her eyes and to the top of her throat during the vicious attack as she underwent life-saving surgery at Boston's Children Hospital, which lasted more than 11 hours.
Lily was sedated for a week by doctors to stop her from scratching her face and remains on a breathing tube.
However, according to family friend CJ Pitcher, who created a GoFundMe page for the little girl's medical bills, doctors have told Lily's family she won't be able to smile again due to her injuries.
Mr Pitcher wrote: “Her salivary glands aren’t working … and doctors said she won’t be able to smile again.
“Muscles are too damaged.”
Mum Dorothy, who has been at her daughter's side since the attack, revealed she will remain sedated for another week.
She told News Center Maine: "She’s still sedated because she has a breathing tube in. But other than that, she’s really good. She looks really good.”
Dorothy revealed the dog attack happened when she took Lily over for a play date with her neighbour's friend, who was dog-sitting.
She said: "They were going to play cards at the table, so she sat down at the table, the friend went and got the cards, and then as soon as the friend walked back in the room, she screamed to her mom because the dog had Lily in her mouth."
Lily was rushed to a nearby hospital by her neighbour and then quickly flown to Boston Children’s Hospital for urgent treatment after needing over 1,000 stitches to her face.
But despite the vicious attack, Lily has not been put off by dogs, according to her mum.
The toddler told her parents in hospital she still likes the animals - just not that particular dog.
Dorothy added: “She’s so energetic. She loves to be outside, loves it. And she doesn’t hate all dogs, at least that’s what she told me. She just doesn’t want to see that one again”
The animal control officer for the town of Chesterville, Dexter Bridges, said the attack is still being investigated.
