The family of a Fairfield woman who nearly lost her life in a serious car crash almost five months ago says she is making a remarkable recovery.

Lee Faiga, 19, was the passenger in a single-car accident in May. Her friend, the driver, was not seriously injured when their Jeep slammed into a utility pole along Knapps Highway.

Doctors say Faiga was unresponsive at the scene, and the prognosis wasn't good. Faiga's parents say they were told people who sustained similar injuries usually don't survive.

But now Faiga has been home from the hospital for three weeks. She's spent most of that time in a wheelchair, but she is beginning to walk. She also suffered a serious brain injury, but the family says her spirits have been up.

She says she expects to make a full recovery.

At Fairfield's Public Safety Awards program on Tuesday night, Faiga stood up from her wheelchair to a standing ovation.

Faiga says she wants to someday work with kids with special needs.