Shea Shaw turns 16 today, Friday, just two days shy of four months since her life was changed forever.
The Los Gatos High School sophomore was on Jan. 8 after crossing the street and has been in a coma ever since.
"It’s still baby steps of progression," says Robbie Shaw, Shea's father. "Her eyes are not fully open, but she is squinting at us. She sees us. She’s getting rehab at home now. Not as much as we’d like to see, but it’s what the insurance is giving us now."
Shea was released from the hospital on April 21. She's been home for 15 days now.
The family is searching for physical and occupational therapy for their daughter, and Shaw still hopes for witnesses of the hit-and-run to come forward.
"In the video, it showed so many people around her," he says. "If they could just help identify the vehicle, it’s a plus. They can remain anonymous."
It's been tough for all the family, especially on Shea's birthday.
"But she’s a fighter, and she’s going to pull through this," he says.
In Los Gatos, Carrie Shaw, Shea's mother is putting feathers in children's hair at , where she works. Shaw will do the first feather free and any subsequent one for $5. Donations are encouraged.
"Carrie just wanted to do something nice for Shea's birthday," says Christine Ordaz, a hairdresser at Jigsaw.
Shaw will be out front for the next two hours.
"There's been a lot of people out there, so she may be out there longer," Ordaz says.
Her family and friends still rally around her, and fundraisers to help the family with medical costs have been ongoing.
Joseph Graham heard about Shea through his mother. She is friends with Michelle Bowen, the wife of Shea's father, Robbie Shaw.
"I've never met Shea, but I just really felt for her and for what my mom was feeling," Graham says. "The only thing I could think to do is support Robbie with some sort of donation."
Graham owns Any Haul, a South Bay junk hauling and construction site cleanup company based in San Jose, and will offer 15 percent of each job to the Shea Shaw Donation Fund, as well as a place to donate online.
The effort has been in place for two weeks now, and Graham says the goal is to raise $20,000-$25,000 for the family.
Donations can be made at any Wells Fargo Bank to the and will specifically assist Shea's family with her medical bills.
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is asked to contact San Jose Police Department at 408-409-5339.
