Feb 10, 2006 2:33 pm US/Eastern
Doctors Update Haleigh Poutre's Condition
BOSTON (CBS4) ―
Doctors caring for Haleigh Poutre say the 11-year-old is receiving physical, occupational and speech therapy daily and remains medically stable.
The Westfield girl, who was beaten into a coma in September, is currently being treated at Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston.
Poutre was close to being removed from life support after allegedly being beaten by her adoptive mother and stepfather.
DSS won approval from the state's highest court to remove her from life support, but Haleigh started showing signs of improvement and was weaned off a ventilator.
Doctors then advised the state agency that Haleigh be moved to a rehab facility.
Jason Strickland, Haleigh's adoptive father, faces charges of assault.
The adoptive mother, Holli Strickland, was also charged with assault but she died alongside her grandmother in an apparent murder-suicide about two weeks after Haleigh was hospitalized.
DSS Commissioner Harry Spence has defended his agency's treatment of the case, but criticism of how it was handled has sparked a legislative investigation. Gov. Mitt Romney has appointed an independent panel to probe the case.
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