Though still unable to walk, University graduate Lauren Hoft is making strides in her recovery from an automobile accident that left part of her body immobile.

“She’s very optimistic about her recovery,” said Ashley Hoft Autin, Hoft’s sister.

Hoft, who graduated in May with a biological engineering degree, was involved in an accident Aug. 17 on Highway 411.

While on her way home from job training with oil engineering firm Baker Hughes in Houston, she slammed into the side of a vehicle whose driver lost control merging onto the highway, Autin said.

Hoft suffered a broken right knee, two broken ankles and five broken ribs. While in the hospital, she lost mobility of the left side of her body and her brain began to swell, requiring doctors to remove part of her skull to alleviate the swelling.

But Hoft is now fully coherent and in therapy three hours a day, “trying to get back to doing things on her own,” Autin said.

And she’s giving it her all.

On her first day of physical therapy, Hoft surprised doctors, Autin said.

“They only like to have the patients do an hour of therapy, but Lauren told them she wanted to keep going,” she said.

Autin said the support of friends, family and the Tiger community is keeping her sister in good spirits.

After the accident, Hoft’s family set up a donation account through giftcards.com to ease the mounting medical bills. Friends and family were also encouraged to donate blood in Hoft’s name at Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center. Each donation is credited toward her bill.

As of Sunday, more than $6,800 had been donated online, Autin said. Hoft has also received at least 50 blood donations in her name.

“All these people rallying together is very uplifting to her,” Autin said, adding that Hoft wants to personally write thank-you letters to everyone who helped.

Hoft, 22, grew up in Mandeville. She attended Fontainebleau High School, where she took advanced placement classes and was on the swim team.

Autin encourages the community to continue the support by giving to the giftcards.com web page and donating blood in Hoft’s name. The family is also accepting donations through Capital One Bank under Hoft’s name.

Finally, Chili’s at 3420 U.S. Highway 190 in Mandeville will donate 15 percent of every sale for each Lauren Hoft flier presented today. The fliers can be found on a Facebook page titled “Ongoing Blood Drives for Lauren Hoft.”

Autin said the family is overjoyed by any help received.