A surgeon says a 3-year-old South African girl who received a cloned skin transplant is likely to discharged from the hospital next week.

Dr. Ridwan Mia, the surgeon who attached Isabella Kruger's skin, said that the toddler is now breathing on her own and "doing very well."

Isabella, better known by her nickname Pippie, suffered third-degree burns on more than 80 percent of her body following an accident at a family barbecue.

Earlier this month, doctors attached the skin, which was cloned in Boston using mouse cells as a scaffold.

Pippie has now started to eat baby food and even chicken after months of using feeding tubes.

Mia says Pippie will need daily therapy in the months to come, including physiotherapy to strengthen her muscles.