Chinese student Yali Huang, 23, recently awoke from a coma that resulted from an automobile accident last semester. Huang was struck by a car in November while crossing the street in 1500 block of Merchant Street near Butcher Education Center.

“After three months of care, the hospital (Wesley Medical Center) is ready to discharge Yali but she needs extensive rehabilitation,” according to an article by The Emporia Gazette.

Kevin Johnson, associate professor of business administration and general counsel for Emporia State, said Huang continues to need 24-hour care and that her road to recovery is long from over. Johnson also said that he visited her, and she is responsive to some things, but she is only at the very beginning stages of recovery.

The driver who hit Huang is Patricia Sutton, a 72-year-old resident of Americus. Charges are expected to be brought against Sutton soon, according to the Gazette.

Huang’s father, Reijie, told Gazette reporters the hospital “is very nice,” but expenses are now more than $1 million.

The Chinese Student Association (CSA) will host the Chinese Spring Festival Gala at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Albert Taylor Hall, which will also serve as a fundraiser for Huang and is open free of charge to all students, faculty, alumni and community members.

“We are having this gala as a bridge to educate American students and the area,” said Xiang Sun, president of CSA and senior music education major.

Sun said that in China, the New Year is always celebrated with a gala. The gala has been televised for about 30 years so that everyone can take part in the festivities.

The festivities will feature different forms of entertainment, including a variety of song and dance numbers, traditional music played on traditional Chinese instruments and Western instruments.

If anyone would like to donate to Huang and her family, a fund has been set up at the Bank of America in Wichita. Checks can be made out to Bixiang Huang, Yali’s mother, and mailed to 120 N. Chelmsford Court, Wichita, KS 67230.