The road ahead will be a long one, but doctors say a five-year-old girl struck by a dump truck outside Antigonish last week is expected to make a full recovery.
Maddie MacDonald was on her way to school when she was struck by the truck in Monastery, N.S. on Oct. 4.
“She was unconscious and basically lifeless,” says Maddie’s mother, Cathy Green. “It's still a slow road, but she is opening both eyes, she is looking around, following lights, following voices.”
Maddie has a brain injury and fractures all over her body, but doctors at the IWK Health Centre have told her family she is expected to recover.
“If she keeps up the way she's going, it may take a few months or a year, but yes, we are looking at having Maddie back, and that's just more than we could ever hope for,” says Green.
The family is from Antigonish, N.S. and the trips back and forth to Halifax are creating a financial hardship, but they say they are grateful for those who have helped.
“It's just so nice to know that everyone is supporting her, supporting our little girl, wanting her to get better, and she is, so it's working,” says Green.
While Maddie recovers, the investigation continues. As of Wednesday, police say they have no update and no charges have been laid.
“I'm sure to God that he didn't set out to do that that day. It was just an accident. No one should have to go through this, so we want people to be more aware when they're driving in the mornings,” says Green.
Maddie will require extensive physical therapy but her family is celebrating the small steps, saying her recovery is day to day.
She will remain at the IWK for at least another month.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell
