Bloomsburg University student Emma Kenyon is recovering, after a traumatic brain injury put her in a coma for a month. The Mechanicsburg resident will be able to leave the hospital for the day and participate in graduation May 12.

“I have four kids,” said Michele Dill, who lives in Mechanicsburg and is married to Bob Dill. “Two that grew in my heart, and two that grew in my belly.”

One of those kids is Emma: a 22-year-old studying to be a teacher. But on an icy night in February, she was in a car accident. 

“Her motor cortex was injured in the sense that every muscle in her body, she can’t control,” said Bob Dill. “From that moment, we worked hard to try to maintain the idea that she was there and that she was going to come back to us.” 

“You know things that happened, that you think, ‘oh that’s just a reflex,” said Michele Dill. “They weren’t a reflex. That young women was in there the whole time.”

Her family hasn’t left her side. 

Once Emma woke up, she began physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapy at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Doctors say she’s making incredible progress.

Support from the community, dedicated doctors and nurses and a strong faith have helped Emma’s recovery.

“Emma’s had angels along the way,” said Michele Dill. 

Many of her loved ones are rooting for her by wearing bracelets, that say #Pray4EmmaMae. 

“She has yet to wake up without a smile on her face and a champion’s heart, ready to go to work,” said Bob Dill. 

Emma hopes to be able to go home and begin outpatient therapy in mid-May. 

“She’s already beat all the odds. Nobody thought that this young lady would wake up,” said Michele Dill. “It’s however long and hard Emma works, she’ll continue to get better.”

Click here for the website to donate to help Emma through her recovery.

Click here to track Emma’s weekly progress and buy a bracelet.