A woman seriously injured in a March hit-and-run accident in Italy is now receiving care at her mother's Hall County home.

Julie Bryan, 23, has been at her mother's house since Dec. 21, making slow progress as she recovers from devastating injuries suffered when she stepped off a street corner and was struck by a speeding car.

"She's real stable and making some progress," said her mother, Lisa Sullins. "She doesn't speak, move or eat ... but she tracks people. She knows people and that's kind of huge for her."

Bryan suffered broken bones and bruises, but her main health issue has been a traumatic brain injury.

She returned to the U.S. on July 17, arriving by air ambulance at DeKalb Peachtree Airport in Atlanta.

Bryan was first taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville. She spent three months in a nursing home, then went on to receive care for a couple of months at Atlanta's Shepherd Center.

"She has to get to a more conscious level before they can do (rehabilitation)," Sullins said.

Doctors consider Bryan to be "minimally conscious."

Her health, including vital signs, is otherwise good.

"She has no home health care yet, because all the agencies in Gainesville aren't accepting new Medicaid patients," Sullins said, adding that her daughter hasn't been able to get the therapies she needs.

Bryan stays in a hospital bed at Sullins' house.

Family feed her using a stomach tube. Sullins has to change her daughter's position every four hours.

"It's very difficult. ... There is so much that has to be attended to — it's your day," Sullins said. "But we're fine. We're a real close family, and we'll get through this. God's been good to us."

Family members "certainly don't want her back in a nursing home setting," Sullins said. "It's not really conducive for her. Being at home and being around (familiar) surroundings and family will definitely bring her along."

Although Bryan's family has noticed "some positive changes" since caring for her at home, "we still don't know a prognosis," said her mother. "Until she can actually communicate, you don't really know what she understands or knows."

Bryan was facing a bright future when the accident happened.

A graduate of Chestatee High School in northwest Hall, she had just spent the evening in Rome celebrating with friends her acceptance to graduate school at Boston College.

She had graduated in December 2008 from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and was planning to pursue her master's degree in mental health counseling this past fall.

As for the criminal case in Italy, the government has brought charges against the driver, who is awaiting trial.

However, justice "there is very slow," Sullins said.

"Whatever happens, happens," she added. "I don't have any vengeful feelings. Whatever (punishment) he gets, he gets. I'm not concerned about pushing for anything (in particular). I've just got too much to worry about Julie's care here."