By NICK SMITH
Little Tayla Elliott has smiled for the first time in nearly a month.
The 4-year-old, who has been in a coma-like condition since a car accident on December 28 left her with head injuries and a broken thigh, has also uttered her first words since the crash.
The weekend signs of recovery are the best news her expatriate South African family have had since the terrible collision in Pakuranga last month.
The family's car and another collided on Ti Rakau Drive, nearly killing Tayla and leaving her 6-year-old sister, Robynne, with a broken thigh and fractured pelvis, her father, David, with a ruptured spleen and her mother, Sue, with facial injuries and a dislocated shoulder.
But it was Tayla's injuries that were most worrying.
She regained consciousness after a fortnight but, as her mother said, "she wasn't really with us."
"On Saturday, she was suddenly aware of things," said Mrs Elliott. "She started crying, saying she wanted to come home.
"We took Robynne up to see her. It was such a nice sight - they held hands the whole time."
Yesterday, Tayla told the Herald that she was looking forward to turning 5 in July and starting school with her own bag and lunchbox - just as her elder sister had done.
She has been inundated with get-well wishes, including a hand-drawn card from "boyfriend" Brett, who attends the same kindergarten.
Tayla is not out of the woods yet. Neurologists are monitoring her condition, which involves blurred vision and an inability to chew food.
"There is still a lot of work to do," said Mrs Elliott.
"I don't trust life; I don't want to get too happy unless something else goes wrong."
Today, Tayla will travel from the Starship hospital to the Wilson Home in Takapuna to start her rehabilitation.
Other good news for the South Africans, who immigrated only four months ago, includes the rapid recovery of Robynne.
She faces three months in a wheelchair but may be out of her confining cast in six weeks.
How long Tayla will take to recover fully is uncertain.
"Even her neurologists can't tell," said Mrs Elliott, "but at least she is back.
"I would actually like to bring her home now."
But Mrs Elliott will have to be satisfied for now with weekend visits. She has been told it may be a month before Tayla returns home permanently.
Words mum longed to hear
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