Teen recovering from death's door

Havelock North teenager Kimberly McNeill walks about Hawke's Bay Hospital's rehabilitation unit on her own two feet, gives the occasional smile and is looking forward to the day she can go home.
She's now on the long road of rehabilitation after a car crash late December that nearly took her life.
Although she's not yet regained her speech faculties, Kimberly, 18, is making the best of non-verbal communication, and her father, James, says she's also free of medication, regained her appetite and is eating unaided.
It's a far cry from this time four weeks ago, when doctors at Auckland City Hospital decided the outlook was grim for the critically injured teenager and turned off her life support against her parents' wishes.
Mr McNeill said he was mindful of his daughter's slim chances of surviving, but both he and her mother, Jackie Kiddle, could not accept the doctors' prognosis.
"I would routinely ask whether they had children of their own and what they would do in our situation.
"Those that did have kids could not say what they would do in our position," he said.
"When it is your own daughter's life on the line it is natural to believe that where there is life, there is hope and giving 100 per cent to even the smallest chance of recovery."
Her parents drew on specialist acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine practitioners for support during the critical period when life support was withdrawn to ensure the best shot at this slim chance of survival.
But Kimberly pulled through on her own and three-and-a-half weeks ago was well enough to transfer to Hawke's Bay Hospital.
Her parents have taken time off their work as acupuncturists in Napier to concentrate efforts on their daughter's recovery.
Mr McNeill was relieved to have come out the other side of those dark early days and was grateful for the support from friends, family and team at Hawke's Bay Hospital.
He said while Kimberly's story demonstrated her resilience and determination, love was the common thread that combined all others involved "from the people who found her, the ambulance and fire service, the wonderful staff at Hawke's Bay Hospital, her many friends and all those who were touched and became part of her story ... the love she has inspired in so many is humbling for us".
Kimberly was on her way to Gisborne's Rhythm and Vines music festival when she crashed a short distance from home, just before 6am on December 27.