This Flats mother is praying for a Christmas miracle - that her 10-year-old little girl wakes up from her coma.
Shireen Stephens wants nothing more than for her darling Biancha to open her eyes after a driver ploughed into her as she made her way to the rehearsal for her Christmas play.
Biancha, who was going to play the part of Mother Mary in the production that night, was walking with her friend Keane Figland, 10, when the the tragedy occurred.
The two were walking along Bunney Street, in Kensington, when Biancha crossed the road and didn’t see an oncoming car.
Keane, who saw the red BMW in time, says he tried to stop his friend but it was too late.
“We were walking to church [which is just one avenue away] but there was no one there,” he says.
“On our way back [to the Civic Centre] there were cars blocking the way on the pavement and she wanted to cross to the other side.
“When she ran over, I shouted ‘Biancha, stop!’
“When she ran back, she slipped in the road and fell and then the car hit her.”
The speeding car hit Biancha and dragged her a few metres by her hair which was caught in the bumper of the vehicle.
“The lady in the car got out shouting and crying... then I ran to get help,” he says.
It’s alleged that the driver of the vehicle left the scene and later returned with her brother.
Now the young Grade 5 learner is left with serious head injuries and multiple wounds.
Since the horrific incident a week ago, the family has spent every day at Red Cross Children’s hospital where doctors removed part of her skull to ease the pressure on her brain, and will operate on her broken jaw bone once she’s stronger.
The family have also been told the wounds were infected and have turned septic.
Her mother, who was at work when the incident occurred, faces a bleak Christmas but is hoping that her baby will recover in time.
“I just want her to open her eyes... that’s all I want and we’re praying for her every day,” says the mom.
“I didn’t even put up my Christmas tree… how can I do it without Biancha.”
The mother of four says her daughter is a “chatterbox” who loves sports.
“She was involved in everything, baseball, soccer and she was also going to take part in the play,” sobs Shireen.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for her to make sure that she’s fine... now she’s clinging to life in hospital.”
Biancha was selected to represent her school’s girls soccer team in Sweden in June next year.
“I know she’s a strong girl - my little chatterbox,” says the mom.
“I’m happy my baby was on her way to church with her hymn book under her arm and that she wasn’t on her way anywhere else.”
Shireen sobbed uncontrollably as she held Biancha’s twin Brendon, who is missing his sister.
“I miss her a lot and I feel sad that she’s not at home with us,” he says.
Kensington police spokesperson colonel Natasha Thomas says they have opened a case of reckless and negligent driving but no arrests have been made.