KEY POINTS:
Canterbury jockey Judy Lawson has opened her eyes for the first time since suffering serious head injuries in a race fall, husband Gary Lawson said last night.
Judy Lawson was injured when her mount fell in the opening race at the North Canterbury Racing Club's meeting at Rangiora on October 23.
The meeting was subsequently abandoned because of slippery track conditions and Lawson was flown by helicopter to a Christchurch hospital where she remains in intensive care.
The first glimmer of improvement came on Tuesday night, Gary Lawson said. "She has opened her eyes but she still, obviously, can't talk.
"It's slow progress, but at least she has got her eyes open."
Lawson said it was difficult to tell if his wife was now aware of those around her. "That's the million-dollar question. I'm not sure. We would like to think so, but no one really knows."
Lawson said it had been a long wait for a positive sign but it was at least a starting point.
- NZPA
