One week ago no one knew for sure if Brandy Shea McGough, 16, of Highland Home was going to survive a near fatal motor vehicle accident. This week, a much-improved outlook is in her future.

"We moved Brandy to HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital on Narrow Lane Road in Montgomery this weekend," said her mother, Virginia Moseley. "It really hurts that I cannot be with her all the time anymore, but she is doing much better now."

One week ago McGough was involved in a collision with an 18-wheeler in front of Highland Home School, where her 1999 Nissan Altima was struck on the driver's side by a 2000 Peterbilt transfer truck/trailer. The collision caused her to suffer from a lacerated spleen, liver, right kidney, bruised right lung, and a fractured right arm. It also rendered her to be comatose for a while, and she was air lifted from Crenshaw Community Hospital to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fla., by LifeHeart helicopter.

When she left, no one could say whether she would survive the night, much less get better any time soon.

Her family and friends kept an around-the-clock at her bedside, as the young lady continued to improve.

"We didn't want to leave her, because she needed to see familiar faces when she woke up," Moseley said. "It has been rough, but we have had such wonderful support from everyone, and felt every prayer that was lifted for Brandy and us."

McGough is now conscious, alert, and although unable to speak for extended lengths of time, has a promising outlook from her physicians.

"She now has to work through speech, occupational and physical therapy at HealthSouth," Moseley said. "I know that the reason that we cannot be with her around the clock is because they work so hard with her there, and cannot have family members interrupting."

Moseley has spent a better portion of her life involved in Emergency Medical Services as a certified EMT, and volunteers with the Brantley Rescue Squad.

"I know that I have seen the doctors perform miracles with God's help before, because I took people to hospitals, nursing homes and HealthSouth all the time," she said. "But this is different, because this is my baby."

Moseley said she and Brandy's family could not have made it this far without the support and love of the community.

"I had no idea how many wonderful friends we have, until this happened," she said. "Everyone has been there for us, and we could never say thanks enough."

But McGough is not out of the woods yet. She has a lot of work to do, much of which she feels is discouraging.

"Brandy is used to being bubbly and independent," her mother said. "Right now she gets discouraged with herself when she cannot do something that she used to do. But she is doing very well, can read some out loud, and she smiles that smile that we all love."

Moseley said much of her daughter's progress would just be a matter of time in coming.

"She had swelling of her brain, and that is what has caused her difficulty in speech," Moseley said. "She is also a little unsteady when walking, and doesn't want to walk by herself for fear of falling. But she is doing so well, and I am just so happy that God didn't take our baby away from us."