Girl who was landed by car in the yard before recovering

April 4, 2019, 19:58 GMT

By Kerry Sanders and Elisha Fieldstadt

When LaDerihanna Holmes' mother saw her lying in their backyard after being stuck in a car, she did not think her daughter had survived.

But less than a week later, 9-year-old LaDerihanna said she was expecting a full recovery and was confident she would soon recover.

"We took a few steps on the walker – as much as I could, I thought I would not stay in the hospital for long," LaDerihanna told NBC News on Thursday.

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On Friday, she was playing with a friend in the house of her home in Lithonia, Georgia, when a sedan crossed the yard and hit her. She had a broken skull and her pelvic bone was broken in three places. However, those who watched the surveillance video that filmed the heartbreaking incident are shocked.

"From the first day, I did not expect her to speak, I did not expect her to smile for a moment," said LaDerihanna's father , Derryl Holmes.

"She's really a miracle," said Charlette Bolton, LaDerihanna's mother. "From what happened to her, I'm surprised she's alive."

LaDerihanna is in a wheelchair and is on physical therapy. She stated that she had "very bad" during her first hospitalization, but she now plans that she will be walking in "about a week".

When asked if she was considering joining her cheerleading team, she replied "most definitely".

"I'm coming back," LaDerihanna said. "I'll be back soon." Although she joked, she may not be as ready to go back to school.

The nine-year-old optimist expressed gratitude for the support of her family, hospital staff and strangers around the world, who heard her story and sent messages of speedy recovery.

"It's just wonderful and overwhelming that they help me, pray for me and make me pray, and it's so nice," LaDerihanna said. "My goal is to improve with the help of everyone."

"She's a strong and resilient girl. She is very, very strong, she keeps me strong every day, "said Bolton.

"I have no doubt that she is recovering completely," said Bolton, adding that once her energetic daughter is restored, she will not complain about her stunts. "I will never stop her from going back to my room again," Bolton said with a smile.

Gabriel Jabri Fordham, 28, on suspicion of having entered LaDerihanna and having left his friend less injured before fleeing, was arrested on Tuesday. You can also see a passenger on the surveillance video that flows from the accident, but the police did not say if that person would be charged.

According to DeKalb sheriff's office, Fordham is being held without bail, charged with serious injury by a vehicle, unable to maintain a lane, stopping at a stop sign, careless driving and hit and run. The court records show that he has already been charged with burglary, theft, assault and forgery.

Fordham Lawyer, Ryan C. Williams, said in a statement Wednesday that his client was not at fault, the other person in the car trying to "steal and carjack my client" and "a fight broke out inside the vehicle that caused the accident."

But LaDerihanna's parents and their attorney do not buy her story.

"He had five days to think about this story," said family lawyer Chris Stewart.

"When you're cared for, you do not do it on the passenger side," said Bolton. "I do not believe it at all, it's outrageous."

"Justice will be done for my daughter," said Bolton, adding that for the moment, she focused on the positive.

"I asked God to save my baby when all this was happening and he did," Bolton said. "I'm very grateful."