Coma girl Sophie Wilkinson will be home for Christmas

To the delight of her family, the 18-year-old will be waking up on Christmas morning in her own home, ready to enjoy five days of festive fun with loved ones.

This will be the first time that Sophie, from Bishop’s Waltham, has been well enough to spend such a prolonged stay at home since a horrific car crash left her in a coma last October.

Her courage and fighting spirit has never failed, astonishing doctors with the progress she makes and inspiring support from movie stars Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.

She is now able to respond to those around her and stand with the help of therapists. She also never stops smiling.

The road ahead is long, but doctors are confident Sophie still has plenty more fight left in her to continue improving in the new year.

Sophie will make the journey home from the Royal Mineral Water Hospital, Bath, today, ready for a special Christmas with her mum Alison, dad Andrew, and younger brother and sisters Tom, Ella and Lucie.

Andrew said: “Sophie has just done brilliantly and she continues to fight. To have her home this Christmas is a dream come true and we are all so excited.

“The doctors have been amazed by her improvement, especially because they have told us Sophie has suffered one of the most serious brain injuries they have ever seen, and they believe she still has more to give.

“The progress she has made is all down to her, she is so courageous and refuses to let this beat her.

“We are convinced she understands what we are saying to her and her therapists have her standing every day.

“Having her home for Christmas and for five whole days is truly a miracle.

“During the first days after the accident we were preparing for the worst, but here we are getting ready for a family Christmas together at home.

“It’s absolutely fantastic.”