AVENTURA, Fla. – A 2-year-old girl who nearly drowned inside her family’s pool in Aventura in early April returned home with her family on Thursday.
Authorities said Heleni Ezra was found unresponsive in her family pool, the victim of a near-drowning incident that left her in critical condition on Aug. 6.
Now, Heleni is still on a ventilator but surrounded by the unwavering faith of her family.
“We have outfitted our whole home... it’s like a mini hospital,” said Heleni’s father, Shlomi Ezra. “We are going to do everything to bring her back strong.”
Ezra remains hopeful, praying for his little girl to wake up.
“Heleni is with us,” he said. “We are trusting God to do his miracle and wake up her brain.”
The community’s response to Heleni’s story has been overwhelming, with weekly prayers held outside the hospital.
Ezra told Local 10′s Rosh Lowe that he has seen signs of hope in his daughter’s movements, believing they are answers to those prayers.
“The past few weeks, there were so many times I spoke to her. I said, ‘Heleni, move your hands,’ and she moved them. ‘Move your head,’ and she moved it,” Ezra recounted.
As Ezra hugged the hospital staff, he expressed his gratitude for the prayers that continue to pour in.
“My daughter is still alive... please continue to pray for the big miracle to happen and for her to wake up and bring light to the world,” he urged.
As the ambulance pulled away, taking Heleni home, her father sat by her side, filled with faith that this was just the next stage of their journey — a journey where faith and trust will beat all odds, and where one day, his little girl will open her eyes to see her family once again.
“What would you say to those who suggest that, given she’s been on life support since early April, it might be time to consider ending it? You would never make that decision, correct?” asked Lowe.
“Never. I believe my daughter is still with us, and here we are, going home right now,” said Ezra.