A woman who was placed into an induced coma after she was hit by a rollercoaster has finally woken up but is still currently unable to communicate with her loved ones, it has been reported by Daily Mail Australia.
Shylah Rodden, 26, sustained a substantial injury to her brain on September 24 after she was hurled 29 feet into the air by a rollercoaster while trying to retrieve a phone she'd dropped at the Melbourne Royal Show.
The outlet reported that staff at Royal Melbourne Hospital had confirmed that the young woman's condition is stable.
However, her family has disagreed with this determination, with Shylah's younger sister Caisha telling the newspaper: "She had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury so if that’s what people think is stable they are wrong."
Daily Mail Australia reports that Shylah's vital signs are now considered to be at a normal level, which means she can be moved from a high dependency ward to a regular ward.
Caisha said although her sister has woken up, she is still unable to communicate with friends and family and faces years of rehabilitation.
"Just because she’s awake doesn’t mean she's stable," she said.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has since been set up to help with Shylah's recovery, and it has raised more than $21,000 at the time of writing.
While her condition has been getting better over the last few weeks and is no longer regarded as critical, the extent of the damage done to her body remains to be seen.
It has been reported that it's unlikely she will go on to live a normal life and there are concerns she may never be able to speak again.
Shylah's father Alan Rodden told Daily Mail Australia not long after the accident that his daughter had sustained life-changing injuries.
"I can't talk to my daughter. She's going to be in a coma for quite a while," he said. "The injuries are horrific. Horrific. She's brain damaged. It's pelvic, her arms, legs, back, neck - there's hardly a thing that's not broken. I just can't work out how the hell so much damage has been done."
He added: "Even the doctors have said they haven't seen anything as bad as this for a long time."
A friend told the paper that the money raised from the fundraiser will cover Shylah's recovery and rehabilitation.
"People are under the impression that this money is just for her family. But people need to know this money is for Shylah's recovery," the friend said. "This money will go towards her therapy, her rehabilitation, things they need to change around the house for showering and toilet needs."
The fundraiser, which was set up by Shylah's friend Sylvia Dess, reads: "Hi my name is Sylvia and I’m a close friend of the family of Shylah Rodden. Shylah was involved in a tragic incident at the Royal Melbourne Show on Sunday the 24/9.
"I would like to raise as much money as I can for Shylah’s 24 hour care, rehab, therapy, possible equipment as Shylah has suffered brain injury, changes that will need to be made around her house (shower and toilet.) Family and friends are devastated during this crucial time and thank everyone for all the kind wishes and donations. It has not went unnoticed.
