NEW DELHI, Dec 17: A six-year-old Pakistani boy who underwent a successful liver transplant will celebrate his birthday in a hospital here on Monday amid hopes of returning home soon on a happy note.

Anupam Sibal, medical director of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, was quoted as telling a domestic news agency that Hamza was still in the hospital’s intensive care unit but responding well to medication.

“Doctors are keeping a close watch and we hope his condition will be normal soon,” he told the IANS news agency.

He refused to give further details. “It’s too early to comment and we are not in a condition to give the details till late next week.”

However, sources in the hospital said the child was recovering fast and was out of deep slumber.

On Dec 12, Hamza underwent a 12-hour liver transplant as a large part of his liver was not functioning.

“Thirty per cent of the mother’s liver from four different segments was taken to conduct the segmental liver transplant,” the hospital source said.

The source added: “For the first few days the mother and child were in ICU but the mother is out now. Hamza is out of deep sleep and is looking much better. But doctors have asked him not to speak.”

Hamza is here with his parents and two other relatives. He was admitted to the hospital on Dec 7 and will remain there for about seven weeks for post-operative care.—Online