A nine-year-old boy left with life-changing facial injuries after a pit bull mauled him “cried a lot” when he saw himself for the first time, his older brother revealed.
Alejandro Mizsan remains in Crumlin Children’s Hospital where he will be joined by his family over the festive period. In an exclusive interview with the Irish Mirror, his brother Raul told how a device in the hospital is helping the boy speak. He also revealed the primary school pupil will have to go to Turkey to get a lip implant.
Raul also showed his new tattoo which he had done in Alejandro’s honour which brought the first smile from the young lad since he was attacked. Alejandro was mauled by a pitbull as he played with pals on the green of the Old Forge Road housing estate in Enniscorthy, Wexford on Sunday, November 27.
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He had his bottom lip torn off with his cheeks savaged as well as body and leg injuries. Raul, 21, said Alejandro has already had two operations and is due to have another procedure following the festive period.
But the lad – who could not speak for weeks after the incident – has courageously had to come to terms with the injuries and scarring left behind. Raul told the Irish Mirror: “Alejandro is in a lot of pain.
“He has seen himself for the first time in recent days, first with a phone and then he asked for a mirror. It was very hard for him. He cried a lot.
"He will have another surgery after Christmas. There’s still some stitches to come out.
“He can only talk with a tube. There is a special tube that helps him talk and he can talk clearly enough, but he’ll only be able to talk with that for a long time.
“We will spend Christmas in the hospital with him, all my family and uncles and aunts, everyone.”
Read more: Family of boy mauled by pitbull 'heartbroken' that he won't be home for Christmas
Raul also told how he got his brother’s name tattooed on his torso. He said: “It’s symbolic for me. I know it won’t do anything for him and for his injuries.
“But it got a bit of a smile when he saw it. He was happy with it when I showed him it.”
Alejandro will remain in Crumlin’s Children’s Hospital for some time but is expected he will have to undergo extensive treatment abroad. Raul said: “We have to go to Turkey for a lip implant at some stage.
“He will also have to get treatment for scarring, and psychologists, not for only him but for all of us.” Social care worker Raul explained his parents Ion and Otilia and the wider family are still struggling to come to terms with what happened.
Read more: Family haven't seen mum of boy mauled by pitbull 'without tears in her eyes'
He revealed: “My mum and dad are extremely bad. All of us, all of our family. We’re mentally breaking down if you understand what I mean.
“We don’t want anyone to experience the same pain we have in our hearts at the moment. We are very lucky to have him alive with us and this what matters at the moment.
“No one should experience the pain we are going through at the moment. Every time we look at him, we have pain. Hopefully it will improve soon.”
On behalf of his family, Raul wanted to thank the huge generosity shown by not only the community in Enniscorthy, but from around the country. Alejandro has received a tablet from his neighbours in the estate as well as toys and he has got cards every day since he was brought to hospital.
And Raul revealed: “Even in the hospital there was people giving us parking spaces so we wouldn’t have to pay.” A GoFundMe set up by the Mizsan’s neighbour Caroline Brien has raised over €173,000 so far.
And it remains open for donations as the cost of future treatment for Alejandro will be very costly. Expressing his gratitude for the community’s support, Raul added: “I have no words to describe how thankful we are to every single person.
“I wish everyone all the best and a happy Christmas and new year. And may God bless them because they did something unexpected. We were so surprised and thankful for everything they have done.
“Alejandro has a long road ahead of him and it’s going to be very expensive with money we don’t have so we are very thankful for everyone who has donated.”
Following the incident, Niall Byrne, 27, was charged with two counts of threatening to kill unnamed persons. The accused, whose address was given as Forgelands, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, is also further charged with dangerous driving, having no tax or no insurance on November 4, 2022.
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