Emily Martin, the 15-year-old RHHS student who was in a near fatal wreck in September, has recently been moved out of the intensive care ward and into a regular room at Memorial Hospital. Friends and family say this is just one of several positive signs seen of late in regard to Emily’s road to recovery.

Meanwhile, nearly $500 was raised Nov. 3 at family sports pub Beef ‘O’ Brady’s to help the Martin family with medical bills. Family, friends and members of the community came out in droves to dine at the restaurant on Saturday knowing that 15 percent of their bill went to the Martins. This was the first of several fundraisers for Emily.

Although laid up in the intensive care unit at Memorial hospital, the level of Emily’s improvement is described by her grandmother Diane Shuman as "a miracle."

"She’s still got a long way to go, but she’s progressing in the right direction," Shuman said. "We’re very pleased with the progress she’s made. The doctors have assured us that it’ll come with time. We feel like we’re blessed."

Shuman said the doctors are also pleased with the level of improvement Emily has achieved in the eight weeks she has been hospitalized. Immediately following the accident, Emily’s fate was unclear due to multiple head fractures she sustained. Recently, doctors had planned to insert a cranial shunt to help stabilize pressure, but that was bypassed when they saw that she was healing fine without taking that step.

"The doctors have told us they’re going to let her body heal itself," Shuman said. "We just know she’ll make a full recovery. We just feel it in our hearts."

Reports indicate that Emily is walking, talking and remaining in good spirits.

"Her outlook and her attitude throughout this whole thing has just been amazing," family friend Melissa Bene said. "They love her at the hospital. She’s just so positive and courteous to all the staff. When you’re in pain, most people tend to get real grumpy. Well, there are no signs of that with Emily. To be her age and to be going through what she’s going through is just astounding,"

Bene is involved with upcoming fundraising efforts for the Martin family and said that a car wash, poker run and yard sale are some of the things in the works. She also spoke of bracelets she ordered that will be available soon for $3 each. They will be a tie-dye of Emily’s two favorite colors, pink and royal blue and say "Stay strong Emily" on them. Bene is confident the bracelets will be a hit and said she will probably "get goose bumps every time I see someone in the community wearing one." They can be pre-ordered now by calling 756-7194.

This week, Futch’s Auto Sales donated a four-wheeler which will soon be raffled off to help the cause.

The very next fundraiser will be a benefit car wash which will take place in front of the courthouse annex in Richmond Hill on Dec. 15. Bene encourages anyone that would like to help to contact her at 756-7194 or Haray at 727-4012.