Nearly three weeks ago, Emily Bowman’s family and friends weren’t sure if she could survive her injuries.

On Friday, the 19-year-old was out of a coma and breathing on her own as she took a short road trip. She moved from Athens Regional Medical Center, where she’d been since Feb. 16 when she struck by a hit-and-run driver, to the Shepherd Center in Buckhead.

It’s a move that thrills her family because it means Emily continues to recover. And she’s closer to her Cherokee County home.

“We were sad to leave Athens this morning since they took such great care of her,” her father, Dale Bowman, said Friday afternoon. “This is just a breath of fresh air. We were ecstatic about getting her here and starting a new process.”

Emily Bowman isn’t responsive, but her eyes were wide open as she arrived at her next stop Friday around 1 p.m., her father said.

Doctors at Shepherd will evaluate Emily during the coming days to determine her treatment program.

“Our job is to use interventions, both medication and therapy services, to see what we can do to help her along this journey, to help her get as good as she can be,” Dr. Gerald Bilsky said during a news conference at the Shepherd Center.

On Wednesday, the 22-year-old Bartow County man who is accused of hitting Emily turned himself in and was arrested. William Wilson Heaton, of Rydal, is facing six charges, including felony hit-and-run, DUI and serious injury by motor vehicle.

Heaton remained in jail Friday afternoon on $50,000 bond. Once he posts bond and leaves jail, he’ll be required to wear an ankle monitor.

Those wishing to donate to the Bowman family’s medical costs can visit any Wells Fargo branch and inquire about the Emily Taylor Bowman Medical Bill Fund.