Selah Leaves Strong Hospital

Eight-year-old Selah Clanton began her recovery in August at Golisano Children's Hospital.

Doctors say while her progress is remarkable she still has a long way to go.

Tina Shively has the story.

After more than 4 months of treatment, hundreds of miles from home, the Clanton family is leaving Rochester's Ronald McDonald house to go back to Florida.

It couldn't come at a better time for Selah's father, John.

"We are nothing but thankful for all of the love that has been extended to us," said John Clanton. "Probably the best birthday gift that I could've ever had was to be able to bring her home on my birthday, after 18 weeks in the hospital."

The Clanton's adopted Selah from Ukraine several years ago. She is autistic and has mental disabilities.

In August, during a visit to Rochester, John lost control of a stroller that Selah and her brother Sam were riding in.

They rolled into the Erie Canal. Selah was left in a deep coma. The first 8 weeks after the accident, doctors say Selah made no progress. But then, an apparent breakthrough. An experimental treatment of fish oil seems to have put an end to Selah's violent tremors.

Dr. Barbara Asselin treated Selah at Strong Hospital. She said "She has had the kind of response people hope for in terms of some of the lab tests that we do. So we're hoping that it will help her to continue to progress."

She has since gained weight, can sit up with help, and uses facial expressions to respond to questions.

John Clanton added "To have a near drowing in the water and almost lose your children and then to have fish that swim in the water as a part of the healing, it's kind of ironic."

The family hopes to return next summer to show off the progress Selah has made in her recovery.

Selah's mother Yvonne Clanton added "We made a commitment to the judge in the Ukraine that we would give the girls the best life possible and many times those words have come back to me, how we committed to her...She still has a long way to go but it's farther, a lot farther than they ever expected her to be ever."