Charlie Beddoes, now known as Carlos, is the son of a former Huddersfield man, and has been looked after by staff at the Refugio Aboim Ascensao orphanage since he was dumped by Katherine Penny, 24 and her partner, former Shelley High School pupil, Mark Beddoes, 30, near Faro Airport in January last year.
The couple then flew to Bournemouth in January last year claiming they could not afford an operation on his harelip and cleft palate.
Since then Charlie has had a series of operations and he will be assessed next month to see whether he needs a final operation.
Dr Luis Villas-Boas, who is based at the children's home in Portugal, said Charlie's future now lies in the hands of the courts.
"We are still waiting for the decision of the courts in Portugal and the UK.
"It does seem a long time, but it could be worse.
"He is being taken care of and is recovering from his operations.
"He has five teeth on his upper side and is walking, smiling and playing.
"I believe he is most likely to be adopted in Portugal but it is the courts' decision and not ours," he said.
Police in England did not prosecute Charlie's parents but the couple could still be extradited to Portugal to be dealt with by courts there where the maximum penalty for abandoning a child is eight years in prison.
His mother got £7,500 in legal aid to fight for custody but it is not known if she is pursuing the case.
Mr Beddoes left his home in Upper Denby when he was 20 because the village was `too quiet for him'.
He and Miss Penny lived in Albufeira, on the Algarve, where they worked in the timeshare industry.
In newspaper reports last year Mr Beddoes maintained he was duped by Miss Penny into thinking their child had been safely put into care.
He agreed to doing that because they were desperate for money.
He told one newspaper he promised to return to Portugal to be reunited with the baby.
Dr Villas Boas said as far as he knew neither Mr Beddoes nor Miss Penny had expressed any interest in Charlie.
