Heartbreaking pictures of Roona Begum’s swollen skull in The Sun prompted readers to donate thousands of pounds to help her.

The 18-month-old is having a series of operations to reduce the size of her head – caused by an extreme form of hydrocephalus or water on the brain.

Then … Roona when she went into hospital a month ago

So far doctors have reduced the swelling by nearly a third from 37ins to 29ins by draining fluid from her skull. Although she remains in a critical condition, doctors say she has responded well to treatment.

Roona’s future looked bleak a month ago. Doctors in her native India said the head swelling was “among the largest in the history of medicine”. Her dad Abdul, who earns less than £2 a day in a brick factory, could not afford her treatment and she faced a slow death.

But after Roona’s story appeared in The Sun, thousands of readers donated to the charities we highlighted – donation site My Good Act and medical training organisation Cure. My Good Act raised nearly £30,000 and two weeks ago Roona was flown to a hospital near the capital New Delhi with Abdul, 26, and wife Fatima, 24.

The Fortis Foundation, which runs the hospital, said last night she is now “thriving”.

My Good Act founder Jonas Borchgrevink said: “Once it was highlighted by The Sun people came to say they wanted to help.

“The response we have had means we will hopefully be able to help children like this for years to come.”

Helene Frost, boss of Cure which sends surgeons to help children in the developing world, said: “Roona’s story has clearly resonated with readers. We are using the funds to save the lives of children just like Roona.”

Around 400,000 kids are stricken with hydrocephalus every year, many in poor nations.

Roona faces months of treatment – and could still be left brain damaged or blind because of the swelling.

Mr Borchgrevink added: “The doctors want to be cautious, but they have drained a lot of fluid and so far it has been successful.”