Dorota is back in the saddle

Dorota’s life was turned upside down when was struck by a car on the A4 London Road in Newbury last June 29.
The pupil at St Joseph’s Primary School, Newbury, sustained serious head injuries and was initially taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, before being transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, where she remained in a critical condition.
For days and nights together her mother Agnieszka Orybkiewicz kept vigil as she lay in medically induced coma.
Eventually Ms Orybkiewicz, who lives with Dorota and partner Andy Reilly on the Skyllings estate, felt her daughter squeeze her hand.
She said at the time: “She’s also been trying to breathe on her own but there’s a long road ahead.”
Dorota’s schoolfriends sent taped messages and neighbours on the estate raised £188 to help with the family’s petrol costs and living expenses.
Long weeks of specialist care followed, with Dorota staying at The Children’s Trust residential care and rehabilitation home in Tadworth, Surrey.
She also enjoyed therapeutic sessions at Riding for the Disabled in Lambourn.
Dorota continued to make progress and was discharged home on November 30.
Another major milestone came when Dorota returned to school just before Christmas.
Her mother said: “She’s still physically weak and has trouble concentrating for long periods, so she has some way to go yet. She started going for a couple of hours a day but she has just begun her first full days back.
“We’re just so glad that we live in West Berkshire because the help and support we’ve had has been incredible. Everyone, from the school headteacher to the local authority, friends and neighbours on the estate, has been amazing. People even brought food round to help out and our church community rallied round us.
“Dorota, Andy and I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who helped us.”