A family says its is still dealing with the effects of a car accident involving a schoolgirl four years ago.
Katie-le-Marinel, now 17, was walking along Moor Road from Southlands High School in November 2008 when she was hit by a car.
Four years later, the Cardinal Newman College pupil continues to make strides in her long recovery.
She has beat the odds and is trying to live a normal life again but her family say they are still haunted by the incident, which will affect Katie for the rest of her life.
Katie’s auntie Maureen-le-Marinel said: “She is doing really well and started a college course in September. They run a specialist course to help with skills for disabled people and is enjoying it.
“We are trying to let her do the things that 17-year-olds do by giving her a bit of independence.
“However, we still know that she has the mental age of an eight-year-old because the injuries she suffered.
“It means that there are tough times but we have a lot of good things as well.
“She suffers from a few headaches. I might get one and be able to deal with it, we don’t know with Katie’s brain injury how it is affecting her so we have to be careful.”
Katie celebrated her 17th birthday last month with family and friends and Maureen admits that they hope that she continues to develop in 2013.
“She is really enjoying life at the minute.
“We have got her a pet called Miss Monty - a Royal Python because she liked snakes when I had one.
“She comes along to the North West Reptile Club to learn about snakes and talks about what she knows which is great considering her disability that she struggles to talk sometimes.
“But because it is something she enjoys it makes it easier for her.
“She has always loved horse riding but has not been able to do that but we hope in the new year she might be able to get back to it.”
The family insists Katie’s recovery has been helped by all her friends from Southlands High School, who have all been there for her .
Maureen added: “We are lucky that she still stays in contact and she still goes shopping with them
“In years to come she is going to need rehabilitation and may not be able to work.
“So it is still going to be tough for the family.
“We are just so happy with the progress that she has made considering the experience that she had to come through.”
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