On Monday, as Eunice Clark, the head nurse in the intensive care unit, attempted to suction secretion from Jesus' breathing tube, the boy did what any child would do in the same predicament: squirming and fighting to pull the breathing tube out. His lungs were severely injured in the dunking and doctors expect he will need the ventilator to breath for him for at least another week.

"Its O.K., Jesus," said Ms. Clark, stroking his thick black hair.

"Would you like to watch Power Rangers? Let's see what's on," she said while punching the button of a remote control. A giant purple dinosaur singing about the importance of eating vegetables appeared on the television screen above his bed, and in response the little boy's big eyes grew wider and he immediately calmed down.

"Do you like Barney?" she asked; it was the first time she had seen him awake enough to ask such questions since he arrived. The little boy, who cannot speak because of the tube down his throat, nodded. She instructed a colleague to fetch one of the numerous Barney dolls he has been sent by well-wishers. Gifts for the baby have been stockpiled in various offices, but now that he is waking up, an army of animals is migrating toward his room.

"Do you have one of these at home?" she asked, taking an oxygen monitor off his finger and placing the stuffed animal within reach of his hand. He touched the purple fur and shook his head no.

It has not been an easy life for Jesus. As an infant he was admitted to the hospital with a fractured skull, a fractured rib and burns; his mother, Grisell Dennis, was held responsible for the injuries and sentenced to probation. As a result, Jesus, his twin sister and two older siblings were placed in foster care. Marjorie Valleau, a spokeswoman for the Human Resources Administration, said that for reasons of confidentiality the agency could not provide details about the case but confirmed that the children had been in foster care.

But people familiar with the case said that the children had been returned to their mother last May after she had been enrolled in a so-called "home rebuilding program," involving parenting classes and counseling.

By that time, Ms. Dennis was living with Rene DeJesus, the man now accused of hurting Jesus on Easter. He faces charges of first-degree assault and reckless endangerment. The couple have a baby who is 3 months old. The baby and Ms. Dennis's other children are all in foster care.