Sixteen-year old Alissia Neaderhiser wrote poetry about life and love. She collected Powerpuff Girls, and dressed like one of the characters for Halloween.

Hours after this photo was taken, the pickup she was riding in crashed and she was taken by helicopter to the U Med Center.

Randy L. Jensen M.D./ Neurosurgeon: "WHEN ALISSIA CAME IN SHE WAS COMPLETELY WITHOUT ANY NEUROLOGICAL FUNCTION."

Jennifer Kronberger/Alissia's sister: "HE SAID, 'IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE SHE'S GOING TO MAKE IT.' (CRIES)"

Alissia had suffered a severe head injury. Her bruised brain was swelling uncontrollably inside the skull.

Doctors had to choose between letting Alissa die, or trying a radical procedure.

Randy L. Jensen M.D./ Neurosurgeon: "SO WE TOOK HER TO THE OPERATING ROOM AND BASICALLY TOOK OFF ONE SIDE OF HER SKULL TO MAKE ROOM FOR HER BRAIN TO EXPAND."

C.T. scans show the brain has swollen beyond where the skull was. Alissia was in a deep coma. Her Mother, brother and sister keep vigil as she lay unconscious. For weeks, the family doesn't know if she will survive.

But one day, as her mother stood over her bed reading aloud Alissa's own poem....

Karen Kronberger/Alissia's Mother: "I GOT DOWN TO THE END OF THE POEM AND SHE REACHED UP BOTH OF HER ARMS, AND SHE PULLED ME DOWN AND GAVE ME A HUG AND RAN HER FINGERS THROUGH MY HAIR, LIKE THAT..."

Amazingly, Alissia seemed to become more aware. She relearned the things that doctors thought she would never do again.... to walk... to talk.

After four months, her neurosurgeon replaces the missing section of her skull with a plastic plate.

Joshua Stansbury/Alissia's Brother: "STILL NERVOUS." Shelley Osterloh: "WHY ARE YOU NERVOUS?" Alissia: "I'M FINE." Josh: "I KNOW. BUT I STILL WORRY ABOUT YOU. WE WENT THROUGH A LOT WITH YOU."

Shelley Osterloh: FIVE MONTHS AGO, ALISSIA'S DOCTORS AND FAMILY FEARED THIS DAY WOULD NEVER COME. BUT FINALLY, ALISSIA IS GOING HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL."

And as she says good-bye to those who cared for her. Alissia and her family step into a new phase of her recovery. Now they are responsible for her care.

Jennifer/Sister: "KIND OF ALMOST THE BEGINNING OF ALISSA'S LIFE AGAIN. A START, AND ALMOST FOR US TOO, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS NOW."

Her brother and sister make a dramatic sacrifice -- they go back to school and are certified as nursing assistants simply so they can help with her care.

Alissia is happy to be home with her family, and her dog, Shadow.

Alissia: "I'M HOME FOREVER SHADOW."

But a girl who is literally lucky to be alive still has a struggle ahead of her. She has had a serious setback, that forced a new round of surgery.

But remarkably, her progress continues. Her sense of humor is back, her speech and her memory improve each day.

She and her family work step by step to reclaim a life, almost lost.

Joshua Stansbury/Alissia's Brother: "IT'S LIKE HER MINDS OPENING BACK UP. THE LIGHTS ARE COMING ON IN A DARK ROOM."

Dr. Randy L. Jensen/ Neurosurgeon: I THINK IT'S A MIRACLE FOR HER TO BE ALIVE AND EVEN MORE OF MIRACLE FOR HER TO BE IN THE STATE THAT SHE IN RIGHT NOW WHERE SHE'S MADE A GREAT RECOVERY."

Karen: "I LOVE YOU." Alissia: "I LOVE YOU TOO."

Karen Kronberger/Alissia's Mother: "YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE FAITH... A LOT OF FAITH AND A LOT OF LOVE. I'M A LUCKY MOM."