SENECA – No one knows exactly what happened at 10:46 a.m. Aug. 29 on a rural road near Seneca.

The roads were fine, as were the weather conditions, and no texting teens were involved in the head-on collision between a semitrailer and a vehicle driven by Seneca High School junior Katelynn Ortiz.

Katelynn's rescuers and doctors said they don’t know what kept her alive.

She was airlifted to a major trauma center. Life-threatening injuries – a brain bleed, lacerated kidneys and more – were attended to during a four-hour surgery. Katelynn also had two broken arms, a broken pelvis, compound fractures of her left femur and tibia, and a shattered kneecap.

“At the hospital, they didn’t think she would survive,” said her aunt, Tricia Murray. “She had so many injuries that they couldn’t fix everything. They had to concentrate on the most serious injuries. We do have a strong faith, and we knew God was on our side.”

Since that day, Katelynn has gone through 13 surgeries, including three brain surgeries, a two-week coma and more. She’s at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and is showing slight improvements.

Katelynn still can’t move much or talk, but Murray said as the medication dosages are lowered, she is expected to become more responsive.

“We’ve been told by the doctors that she will never live an independent life,” Murray said, “but the brain is a very mysterious organ. ... She’s awake now, and she’s starting to show signs of reacting. We think she’s aware of her surroundings.”

Her family has seen signs that she still has intelligence. When in her room during Christmas opening gifts, her mother told her to give a thumbs up if she wanted them to continue opening presents.

She did – a sign Katelynn had comprehended what her mother asked and responded.

“Everyone just started crying,” Murray said.

Another good sign occurred when her speech therapist was teaching Katelynn to hum, the start of relearning to speak. People were asking her to say, “mom,” and she hummed a couple of times, then yelled out, “mom.”

Hopes were that Katelynn could come home by early February, but doctors have told the family that’s unlikely. Her mother, Taryn, and her father, Rico, take shifts staying with her.

Her family misses their vivacious Katelynn, whom her mother describes as “a happy, fun-loving child.” She loved to hang out with her friends and go shopping, Taryn Ortiz said, and was excited about her new job at the Morris Dairy Queen.

A group of friends and family called "Katelynn's Angels" have organized a GoFundMe accountwebsite for financial support. Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/bringkatelynnhome.

Much work needs to be done on the family's Seneca home to make it accessible. There are also the expenses of traveling back and forth to Chicago several times a week for therapy and doctors’ appointments, and the medical bills are enormous, according to Katelynn's aunt. A handicapped-accessible van also is needed.

Katelynn’s friends and teachers at Seneca High School are selling T-shirts to raise money for the family and a benefit is planned for May 30.

A special account also has been set up at the Twin Oaks Saving Banks in Morris and Marseilles called “Katelynn Ortiz’s Benefit.” Donation boxes have been placed at businesses throughout Morris, Seneca, Marseilles and Ottawa.

“We want to ask the community to continue to pray for our family and for Katelynn’s return,” Murray said. “We are overwhelmed by the support that has been given so far.”