NATCHEZ — A 23-month-old girl who reportedly suffered repeated abuse, allegedly at the hands of her mother is off life support and making improvements.

Natchez Police Detective Jerry Ford said he visited the girl Tuesday at Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, where she has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit.

“She still has a long way to go, but she is doing better,” Ford said. “Just looking at her today and visiting her, it’s just unbelievable what a person would do to another human being. I just couldn’t believe her mother did that to her.”

The girl’s mother, Shalae M. Lewis, 32, was charged last month with felony child abuse after an investigation led to Lewis reportedly confessing to repeatedly abusing her daughter.

The girl suffered severe head trauma, including a cracked skull and a brain hemorrhage, after reportedly being thrown or pushed down a flight of stairs, Ford said.Lewis had previously told Department of Human Services representatives that the child fell down the stairs while Lewis was taking out trash.

DHS officials contacted police after medical staff reported suspected child abuse after the child was airlifted to Jackson for treatment.

Medical staff found that the child had cracked ribs that were healing, liver damage and burns on her body, Ford has said.

Lewis’ sister Tira L. Davis, 22, was charged last week contributing to the neglect or delinquency of a child, a felony, for reportedly failing to report the abuse to authorities.

Ford said Davis reportedly had knowledge of the abuse of the child and did not report it.

Relatives told police they reported the ongoing abuse to DHS. Ford said NPD investigated an alleged DHS report and found that no abuse of the child had been reported to DHS in Mississippi or Louisiana, where Lewis previously lived.

Lewis reportedly told investigators that she abused the child after the child’s father ended a romantic relationship with Lewis, because the child reminded Lewis of him, Ford has said.

NPD is continuing to monitor the child’s condition with medical staff, Ford said.