She went home Thursday from the hospital, four months after a car accident that killed her mother and older brother.
What you're seeing here is nothing short of a miracle.
Doctors thought 4-year-old Mariaelena Trinca might never walk, speak or maybe even eat again on her own.
"To see her fighting to walk, fighting to hold a spoon, fighting to feed herself, it's very hard, but she's come a long way," said Pat Trinca, grandmother.
Back in October in Manorville, a van collided with a car carrying Mariaelena, her older brother Jason, and her mother, Keri Trinca.
Jason and Keri were killed.
Mariaelena's other brother Christopher was in the car and survived.
Mariaelena though suffered a traumatic brain injury.
But now, after months of surgeries and intense, grueling therapy, she's blowing kisses to her therapists and she's going home.
"She's really a miracle, a little 4-year-old miracle," said her uncle.
Her father, Jason Trinca, read from a prepared statement and thanked everyone at St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson.
"Although she still has a long road to be fully recovered, I have confidence in her outpatient team and I'm sure she'll continue to shock those around her, and I will continue to be by her side 24-7," Jason Trinca said.
If you look in Mariaelena's eyes you can almost see the determination.
So, it's no surprise that her therapists say she never gave up.
"I think she in some respect knew the end result or knew what we were working toward," said Stefanie Costa, therapist, "She really touched all of our hearts and she was just amazing to work with, smiled, gave us hugs."
---
