Afraa was found in the rubble of a collapsed building in Syria, her umbilical cord was still attached to the mother who died almost immediately after giving birth.
The viral video of Afraa rescue from the earthquake captivated the world.
After spending days at a hospital in north Syria, Afraa was released and handed over to her paternal aunt and her husband, who adopted her and are raising her along with their five daughters and two sons. A DNA test was conducted to make sure the girl and her aunt were biologically related, her adopted father, Khalil al-Sawadi, said.
Despite several offers from people around the world wanting to help or adopt Afraa, her family said the best place for the infant is with family.
“I will raise her in a way that she will not feel in need for anything,” said al-Sawadi, who buys and sells cars. Surrounded by his children, al-Sawadi asked them if he should give away Afraa to the well-wishers offering to adopt her and they said in one voice, “No.”
The little baby turns six months old today living happily with her new family. Her aunt and uncle are responsible for raising little Afraa with their seven children in a syrian town of Jindayris.
Earlier this year, a devastating earthquake ripped through south- eastern Turkey and northern Syria, Leaving more than 44,000 people dead and just immediately after the earthquake, Afraa’s mother went into labour and had her baby inside the rubble.
Afraa happens to be the only survival from her immediate family as the mother died just before rescue team could find her. Her father and other siblings all perished in the rubble of the earthquake
Khalil and Gala who now takes care of her, gave her the name Afraa after her late mother.
“She is one of my children now says Khalil and I can’t spend too much time away from her.
