Four-year-old Alen in Auckland's Starship Hospital. The little girl awoke from a coma earlier this week. Photo / Supplied
Four-year-old Alen in Auckland's Starship Hospital. The little girl awoke from a coma earlier this week. Photo / Supplied
The first photo of a 4-year-old girl who survived the Christchurch mosque shootings has emerged since she awoke from a coma.
The picture captures Alen Alsati recovering in Auckland's Starship Hospital, surrounded by family.
Alen sustained critical injuries when she was shot at the Al Noor mosque on March 15.
She woke from a coma earlier this week after undergoing multiple surgeries.
Her critical injuries include brain damage - but it could be up to six months before doctors can determine what this will mean for Alen in the long term.
Both Alen and her father Wasseim Alsati suffered multiple gunshot injuries at the Al Noor mosque on March 15. Fifty people died in the attacks on two mosques.
In a video taken from Wasseim's hospital bed, the Christchurch man thanked everyone for their well-wishes.
He also asked that everyone continue to pray for his daughter's recovery.
The page has raised more than $13,000 since it was set up by a friend of Wasseim's yesterday.
Funds raised through the page will go towards financial support for the family as well as ongoing nursing and medical care for Alen.
Wasseim is currently unable to walk but expects to fully recover.
Despite suffering brain damage, the Givealittle page states that Alen is making daily progress, but cannot currently speak or see people.
"She has begun to say the odd word and recognises her mother's voice," he said.
"It's going to be a long time for me to walk, but eventually I will walk.
"I'm up here in Auckland, thanking everybody, the doctors in the hospital, everybody, and of course our prime minister ... for all the help and support you have provided for me and for my family and for keeping my family here for support.
