AKRON — Emma Pfouts, the 16-year-old Norton cheerleader who fell critically ill after a severe asthma attack during her school’s homecoming dance last year, is continuing to make progress as she fights to recover.
On Friday, Emma's mother shared a heartwarming video update of her daughter using an eye gaze machine to move a mouse cursor around on an iPad that says out loud what she's looking at.
"We know Emma has a long road to recovery and we are incredibly grateful for your continued prayers and support," Emma's mother, Christina Weigand, said on Facebook.
Recently, Emma said "mom" again for the first time since coming out of the coma she was in for weeks.
"So remember back when when I posted how excited I was that Emma said “mom” for the first time?! Well... that was short lived," Weigand said. "Emma was taking a nap due to a headache and it was dark in the room so she couldn’t really see me. She decided it would be funny to call my name every 2 minutes so I would have to answer. Every time I would answer she would laugh."
Weigand said that her family is blessed and that Emma's personality has returned.
"This kid, you guys, there are no words to express how incredibly proud I am of her! She brings tears to my eyes thinking about the fighter she is," Weigand wrote on Facebook.
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All of the progress is incredibly special considering Emma was given only hours to live when she was admitted to the hospital.
On Oct. 19, 2019, Emma was at the homecoming dance when she started struggling to breathe. A police officer watched as Emma walked to her car to grab her asthma inhaler, but as she returned to the building, the officer noticed the teen was in serious trouble. She never made it back inside.
RELATED: Mother of Norton cheerleader Emma Pfouts says daughter is defeating odds with 'significant progress'
Emma was placed in a medically-induced coma, and soon after waking up began swallowing, yawning and moving her eyes, as well as moving her hand.
"I can’t tell you how much my soul heals as she continually progresses back to us," Weigand said.
RELATED: Norton cheerleader opens eyes, moves hand after 3 weeks in coma
