Doctors say it could take two years for 31-year-old Kiara Bowling to recover from the traumatic brain injury that nearly killed her when a car allegedly driven by a seven-year-old struck her in Oakland last month.<\/p>\n
A month after the crash, Kiara Bowling is beginning to walk again, with her family describing her progress as miraculous given how close she came to dying. As ABC 7 reports<\/a>, Bowling suffered a traumatic brain injury and spent weeks in the hospital following the crash, where she has been relearning basic skills.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bowling was walking her best friend\u2019s dog on an East Oakland sidewalk last month when a car being driven by a seven-year-old boy struck her from behind<\/a>, leaving her without a pulse when paramedics arrived. <\/p>\n The boy\u2019s four-year-old brother was also in the car, and their uncle said they had taken their parents\u2019 car keys while the adults were asleep.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Bowling’s parents are reportedly cooperating with the police investigation, which remains ongoing. Bowling\u2019s aunt, Karon Markham, told KRON4<\/a> she hopes investigators thoroughly examine what happened in the household and suggested that Child Protective Services should become involved.<\/p>\n Bowling is now receiving daily occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Markham said she\u2019s working on tasks as basic as coloring and putting together puzzles, while also learning to move more independently.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a blessing,\u201d Markham said. \u201cBecause we didn’t even know that she would make it one month today, and she’s up walking.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The crash has left Bowling facing a lengthy recovery, with doctors estimating it could take as long as two years. Per KRON4, her family hopes she can leave the hospital by December, although Markham said Bowling is eager to move faster.<\/p>\n “She has a long recovery. And she’s getting there. Small steps,” Markham said, speaking to ABC 7.<\/p>\n