After emergency brain surgery for a large bleed inside her skull, Morisue was put in a medically-induced coma for three days.
The accident caused complex facial fractures, an eye injury and serious bruising to her lower body.
She spent two months in Dunedin Hospital and the city's ISIS rehab centre. Her mum visited from Japan.
"I remember seeing her in Dunedin Hospital. I was so relieved but thought, 'Oh, she is here because I am in a really bad condition'."
Four months after the accident, Morisue's blurred vision has gone and she's hoping to return to work at The Rees Hotel soon.
But she still suffers dizziness, anxiety and tiredness. She can only read or watch TV in short bursts.
"I'm a survivor. I didn't die. I haven't been killed - that's what I think about, that's really good."
Catlin, 33, left his car at the scene, got in a taxi and went home to bed.
He was sentenced to two years and four months' imprisonment by Judge Bernadette Farnan at the district court a fortnight ago.
Morisue's glad he was jailed - it's "good education for others" - even though she might miss out on $5000 of the $7500 compensation he's been ordered to pay.