The family of Alejandro Mizsan have bought him a dog teddy to try and help him overcome fears of the animal but they don’t know how he’ll react when he sees one.
The nine-year-old returned home to Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, on Tuesday following seven weeks in Dublin’s Crumlin Children’s Hospital.
He was savagely attacked and mauled by a pitbull on the loose in his housing estate on November 27 last year and suffered horrific facial injuries.
READ MORE: Brave boy home from hospital after dog attack as family say 'nightmare is over, it's a dream for us'
His older brother Raul explained they do not know what level of fear of dogs he has after going through such a traumatic event. Raul told the Irish Mirror: “It was such a devastating incident for him to go through and everything since.
“We tried with a teddy but it’s just a teddy. We just don’t know how he’ll react when he sees a dog.”
He added that as part of the child’s recovery, he will be going to a psychologist to ensure that he can overcome the traumatic incident and move on with his life.
Alejandro is a student at St Aidan’s Primary School in Enniscorthy but will not return for some time. Proud brother Raul, 21, says he will help the young lad keep up with work but says a teacher might call in to make sure he does not fall too far behind.
Raul said: “Returning to school is too far for the moment.
“Maybe we’ll have teachers come in for the moment. And we might make a small classroom for them to come in.
“We have a spare room here that we can use here.”
Such was the impact of the incident and the stress it caused, father-of-one Raul took a month off work.
Mum Otilia and dad Ion Florin have also struggled with their good and bad days after spending most days since the incident with Alejandro in hospital. But the community and neighbours in their estate have been the cornerstone of support since it all happened.
Raul explained: “There are no words or no way of describing how thankful we are. When Alejandro came home on Tuesday, neighbours came all day.
“I would say more than half of the estate came to him to say hello and chat with Alejandro. And there’s more people to come. We’re just so grateful.”
The Mizsan family invited us into their home for Alejandro’s homecoming on Tuesday.
His mother embraced him as he walked through the front door of their home alongside his father.
Raul, who got a tattoo in his brother’s honour, told us: “We’re just very happy to have him home here.”
READ NEXT :
Amy Fitzpatrick 'dead and buried' tip-off as letter claims to reveal grave site
Fine Gael TD Damien English resigns over failure to declare property ownership
Man, 23, dies after he is struck by an SUV in Tallaght as Gardai appeal for witnesses
Man missing from Dublin found dead on beach in Wales had been assaulted
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
