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Tuesday, September 28, 1999

Baby released from hospital
Full recovery expected after plunging off bridge
Jack Keating
The Province

The Vancouver Sun Paramedics rescued baby Kaya after she fell from B.C. bridge.

VANCOUVER - The 18-month-old girl who plunged more than 45 metres from a North Vancouver suspension bridge last week has been released from hospital into the care of an aunt.

"She's going to have a full recovery," the aunt, Debbie Werbes, said of baby Kaya, who has been in B.C.'s Children's Hospital since the incident last Wednesday.

"They've done every test ... There is no reason to keep her in anymore. She's 100%.

"She's sleeping at the moment," said Ms. Werbes. "But she's just fine."

Ms. Werbes said the girl's survival was incredible. "There's not even words to describe that. How do you describe that? What are the odds?

"It's absolutely amazing. It wasn't her time to go. There must be a reason that she didn't."

B.C.'s ministry for children and families has taken formal custody of the girl, although the aunt is caring for her.

The infant's mother, Nadia Hama, was questioned by police for 24 hours after the incident and released.

North Vancouver RCMP is continuing a criminal investigation.

Ms. Werbes' brother Kjeld, the girl's father, maintained a vigil at Kaya's bedside at the hospital.

Kjeld Werbes and Hama are separated.

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