COURAGE: Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani 15-year-old shot by the Taliban for advocating education for girls, bids farewell at a British hospital. (
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The courageous 15-year-old Pakistani girl whose near-fatal shooting by Taliban thugs shocked the world left a British hospital after three months of “excellent” recovery.
Malala Yousafzai, in gray dress and cream headscarf, hugged a nurse, waved to staffers and smiled shyly as she left Queen Elizabeth Hospital Thursday after being declared healthy enough to become an outpatient.
Malala will stay in Birmingham, where her teacher-father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, has been hired at the Pakistani mission, before returning for surgery in a few weeks, doctors said.
“She is quite well and happy on returning home — as we all are,” her father said.
The Taliban marked Malala for execution because she championed girls’ right to an education and opposed the imposition of Muslim Sharia law in her home area, Pakistan’s Swat Valley.
Gunmen shot her while she was returning home from school on Oct. 9. A bullet hit her in the back of her left eye, passed through the side of her jaw and neck and ended up lodged above her shoulder blade.
But it only grazed her brain, coming within a fraction of an inch of killing her.
After being airlifted to Britain, doctors said she had to fight off a life-threatening infection and recover her strength before they would try reconstructive surgery.
While under care in Britain — and still on the Taliban’s death list — she was nominated by petition for the Nobel Peace Prize and made the short list for Time magazine’s 2012 “Person of the Year.”
This week, doctors broke the good news to her that she no longer needed to be hospitalized.
“Malala is a strong young woman and has worked hard with the people caring for her to make excellent progress in her recovery,” said Dr. Dave Rosser.
“Following discussions with Malala and her medical team, We decided that she would benefit from being at home with her parents and two brothers.”
In the Swat Valley, people reacted with joy at the news of her release. Family and friends handed out candy in Malala’s hometown of Mingora.
In future surgery, doctors will rebuild her skull using either her own bone or a titanium plate.
Hospital authorities say Malala can read and speak but cited patient confidentiality when asked whether she is well enough to continue her education in Britain.
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters: “Our thoughts and prayers remain with her and with the family. Her bravery and courage are just an inspiration for all of us.”
Malala’s father vowed to return to Pakistan with his family once Malala is fully recovered. “I thank the whole of Pakistan and all other well-wishers for praying for her and our family,” he said.