(WGGB/WSHM) - Months after a tractor trailer crash changed her life, a young Connecticut woman is defying doctors’ expectations. While she’s still on the road to recovery, her medical expenses are growing. We’re getting answers on how you can help make a difference.

It’s still a long road of recovery for 21-year-old Lilly Hall; however, she’s made significant progress since that major accident back in April, “everything that I thought was going to happen you know, what I had planned, everything’s completely changed.”

Hall described to Western Mass News what life is like for her after being in a severe car accident on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Palmer back in April. The crash involved a tractor trailer, leaving Lilly with a C4 spinal cord injury, “since April I’ve been in a couple different rehabs, trying to gain as much independence as I can and I’ve had to go to therapies all day.”

Both Hall and her boyfriend, Cullen Mulldune, had to be removed from the vehicle, which was underneath the trailer, they were flown to the hospital by helicopter. While Hall was able survive with major injures, Mulldune passed away in the hospital three days later, “honestly most days I sit and look at the pictures of me and Cullen and think about the life we had. My boyfriend’s family has definitely helped me a lot, knowing I’m not alone in the grieving process,” said Hall.

Initially doctors said Lilly would never regain movement below her neck. Now, against the odds, Lilly’s regained some movement, and her recovery is still progressing.

She’s currently receiving care at QLI Nebraska, a state-of-the-art spinal cord injury treatment facility. There, she undergoes rehabilitation therapies for nearly 8 hours every single day.

As the new year approaches, Lilly’s mother tells us they’re in need of funds to maintain Lilly’s treatment there. That’s why Mulldune’s family has started a fundraiser, to remember their son and help Lilly recover.

“she’s doing things that they said she wouldn’t do. That left arm is moving, they said she would have the feeding tube, she’s got that out, she breathes on her own,” While Lilly has made remarkable progress so far, her mother Leslie Balgobin told us continued therapy and access to specialized equipment will give her daughter the best chances of gaining more independence, “it’s really huge for us to keep her here. I don’t want to shortchange her. She’s so young and she’s got a lot left that she can do with her life.”

Lilly and her mother also thanked every single person who’s offered support and donated money to her medical expenses so far.

To learn more about Lilly and Cullen’s story and for link to donate, visit their GoFundMe that can be found here.

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