With her head resting on her mother's shoulders, Jade Ferrando was carried out of Primary Children's Medical Center on Friday afternoon to a car waiting to take her home.

The 5-year-old girl who police say was neglected and abused by her mother's then-boyfriend and who was brought to the hospital weighing just 12 pounds, was well enough to go home.

"She's still recovering and will need therapy and a lot of follow-up (visits to the hospital)," said her mother, Anahi Ferrando.

Even though Jade wore pajamas, it couldn't hide how fragile and thin her figure still is, as her mother placed her in the carseat.

But Jade is slowly improving. Ferrando said her daughter is now up to 17 pounds — five pounds heavier — and has no problem eating solid foods as long as they are soft.

The events of the past few weeks have put a strain on Jade, not only physically but also psychologically, said Jade's grandfather, Rafael Ferrando.

"She hasn't slept for two weeks, even with medication," he said.

Because of that, doctors said it may be more beneficial for Jade to continue her treatment at home, he said.

With her continued therapy, the family hopes Jade will regain more use of her muscles and more movement. Right now, she communicates with others mostly through facial expressions, her mother said.

Jade was taken to the hospital Aug. 22 after Rafael Ferrando, armed with an ex parte order and flanked by West Valley City police, went to the house of 25-year-old Michael John Bowden, who had been given legal power of authority over Jade while Anahi Ferrando was serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq.

Bowden was arrested and charged in 3rd District Court with second-degree child abuse. On Thursday, Bowden missed his fourth roll-call hearing in the case, refusing to come out of his Salt Lake County Jail cell.

Regardless of what happens with Bowden, Anahi Ferrando said her focus right now is on her daughter.

"Sooner or later, he's going to man up to what he did," she said.

Ferrando leaves to return to military duty early next week at Fort Hood, Texas. She did not know Friday if she would be deployed back to Iraq, but noted she was trying to work out a few things so she could remain relatively close to her daughter.

This time when she leaves, her daughter will remain in the care of Rafael Ferrando.

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E-mail: preavy@desnews.com