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The horrific story of 17-year-old Kaylan Dowdie being beaten to the brink of death on November 7 still haunts the minds of Jamaicans both home and abroad. Approximately eight weeks after the wicked attack, the teenager remains in the Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies.

"God has been good to us. She is communicating and is mumbling words, although it is not the way how we would have wanted it, but that is a plus in my eyes," Veniesha Buckley, the child's mother said.

The Papine High School past student was beaten by a group of women at a party and was also reportedly stabbed in the neck. According to Buckley, Kaylan's heart had stopped beating on seven occasions, the longest being for 20 minutes. She was then fitted with a pacemaker, which will help to guard against the cardiac arrests.

HAs not got a break

Buckley told THE STAR that she has not got a break since the incident occurred, and says she will not rest until her daughter's health has improved to a comfortable point.

"I just have to be strong for her. How can I get a break when my daughter is still in the hospital and on a ventilator? There is no break for me ... . I just have to do what I have to do and get things done for my baby," said Buckley, who relies strongly on her faith in God to go through these trying waters.

"Kaylan is improving slowly, but it's just her breathing that is giving her problems. She keeps trying and failing, but we are not giving up. God is in our vessel. She will take a breath here and there, but she is not keeping up. But we continue to pray for a miracle," Buckley told THE STAR.

Buckley said she looks forward to the day when Kaylan will be able to breathe without the use of a ventilator.

"The doctors are not giving us much hope with that because of the injuries that she received. They are also not hopeful of she walking again, either, but we are not giving up. Kaylan is a strong girl, and I believe we shall overcome," an optimistic Buckley said.

Five women have been slapped with charges of wounding with intent and unlawful wounding in relation to the incident.