Little orphan Arti Ramkhalawan marked her third birthday today with a cake and a visit from her maternal grandmother, Sharda Bhim, to her bedside at the San Fernando General Hospital.
Arti remains warded at hospital, and is being treated for cuts to the hands, neck and face which she suffered at the hands of her father, Premnath Ramkhalawan. Her mother Aarika Bhim was stabbed to death on Sunday night. The father then hanged himself.
Arti's aunt, Chandra Sonny, said Sharda planned to stay overnight with the child.
"She left early this morning because she said today is the child's birthday, and she wants to stay with her," Sonny said.
Nurses on Ward 5 of the San Fernando Teaching Hospital sang happy birthday to little Arti. The Medical Director at the hospital Dr Anand Chatoorgoon said the nurses also planned to get the toddler a birthday cake. Chatoorgoon said he spoke with the nurses who assured him that they were showering the youngster with love on her special day.