Tracy Leturgey

Just more than one month after a 13-year-old girl was hit by a vehicle on Route 228, she has been moved out of intensive care but continues what will be a long, hard recovery, according to her family.

Paige Lauten, an eighth grade student at Mars middle school, is being treated at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for serious injuries sustained when she was struck by an oncoming vehicle Nov. 29.

P.J. Harbert, Paige’s aunt, provides occasional updates on her niece's progress on a Facebook page created by the family called “Prayers for Paige L.”

On Dec. 27, Harbert posted about a “Christmas miracle” — Paige had been moved out of the intensive care unit — which she called a step in the right direction.

“The doctors and nurses continue to be cautiously optimistic with her recovery, and we still have a long road ahead of us,” Harbert wrote, ”but God is clearly working, and His presence is clearly being felt.”

That next step was posted by Harbert on New Year’s Eve, when she shared more good news about Paige’s strenuous recovery.

“Paige was moved to the Children’s Hospital Rehab Center down the street so she can begin full time with speech, occupational and physical therapy,” a jubilant Harbert said.

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