Lily Norton, 6, of Chesterville was assaulted by a dog Feb. 18 and was flown to Boston for treatment. Submitted picture
CHESTERVILLE — Lily Norton, 6, was still in Boston Children’s Hospital’s extensive care system under sedation Wednesday, according to family pals. Norton was flown to Boston on Saturday for emergency situation facial surgical treatment following a dog attack. The surgical treatment covered 11 hours and consisted of over 1,000 stitches from under her eyes to the top of her throat.
Family friend CJ Pitcher of Livermore went to Boston with the Norton family and had his boy Jackson Pitcher launch a GoFundMe page on behalf of the Nortons. Now back from Boston, CJ Pitcher said Lily’s swelling is down, however she will be sedated for 7 or 8 more days since physicians hesitate she may scratch at her face. Doctors will likewise keep her on a breathing tube till Saturday when it will need to be gotten rid of to accommodate another surgical treatment. She will be at the health center for a minimum of 14 more days, according to CJ Pitcher.
“Her salivary glands aren’t working … and doctors said she won’t be able to smile again,” said Pitcher. “Muscles are too damaged.”
Norton’s mom, Dorothy, has actually been by her side considering that the attack, however her daddy, Leo, has actually been back home to look after their other kids, Pitcher said. The $6,500 online charity event now has $8,925 from 135 contributions since Wednesday afternoon. Pitcher said he and all the donors he understands hopes this makes it possible for the Norton family to continue focusing on Lily.
The Pitchers discussed whether to put a photo of Norton in her present state on the GoFundMe page, however CJ Pitcher said everybody they asked said they should. “Everybody hears about dog attacks, but they can’t really picture in their head what that looks like,” he said. “So, we put it up.”
Animal Control Officer Dexter “Buzz” Bridges said Tuesday that he might not discuss the event since it is still under examination. Pitcher said the dog that assaulted Norton was a next-door neighbor’s relative’s dog, which next-door neighbor was seeing it. He said Lily was assaulted when she visited have fun with her friend.
