The best news you've heard all day: Mariel Mentink's FIRST PERSONAL UPDATE!

Check it out folks, last night around 9:30pm Mariel Mentink updated her CaringBridge recovery journal completely unassisted for the first time and here's what she had to say:

hi everyone! its me mariel! i got my braces off two days ago and am doing much better. im still in a wheelchair and my right hand still doesnt work but im at my moms in elgin. i have day therapy and the drive makes me so sick! i have a doctor appointment (brain doctor i think)tomorrow so i wont go to therapy tomorrow. my right side still doesnt work so when im home i go on the computer one handed and look online. im getting good at using one hand only! i got my braces off a few days ago. i hated them cause they would click together! my muscles are weak from not using them and sometimes they hurt a little. thank you to all my visitors and i had fun! thank you for all the cards and gifts.

FUCKING AWESOME! Though she's still got a long way to go this is some great advancement from where she was just a month or so ago. For those of you with an EXTREMELY short-term memory, Mariel Mentink was a victim of a hit-and-run collision on New Years Eve. The driver is still at large and presumably living their normal life while Mariel has to deal with the repercussions of this drivers' actions every minute of every day. If you'd like to leave her a message or show your support you can do so through the CaringBridge website. I know many people out there are pulling for continued recovery, and the hunt for the gray SUV goes on.

You're a badass Mariel.