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Vasquez was shot last week while walking home from school. Police say the shooting was the result of a gang dispute she had nothing to do with.

The shooting victim's family says Vada Vasquez is responding to family and breathing on her own. She remains in intensive care, but her condition is described as stable.

Vasquez was hit in her left temporal lobe, the part of the brain that controls speech. She is still able to say and write a few words like "mom," "please," and "thank you."

Doctors say her speech should improve with therapy and can eventually recover fully.

Family members say they hope to have her in a rehabilitation facility by Christmas.

According to her mother Gemma Vasquez, Vada still is not aware of what happened to her, but is asking a lot of questions. The mother also expressed gratitude to the doctors who saved her daughter's life.

"I couldn't believe that she would be this now, eight days after, she would be the way she is today," said Gemma Vasquez. "I didn't know she was even going to make it. But I'm very, very happy and thankful she's alive."

"Besides being a good student, she's actually talented in music and art. I'm hopeful this is... you know, every case is individual," said Dr. Narayan Sundaresan of Lincoln Hospital. "She's young, she's very talented. And I've seen several examples where patients have made full functional recovery."

"To see this young girl out of bed, she is sitting in a chair, she is eating, she can stand up for you in two seconds," said physician's assistant Allison Louie. "She is very secure on her feet. It is unbelievable."

The Vasquez family will spend Thanksgiving in Lincoln Hospital.

"We are not doing any cooking. We are going to wait for when she is better and comes home, and we will have Christmas and Thanksgiving and everything together for her," said Angela Vasquez, Vada's sister.

Tyrone Creighton, 19, who police believe was the intended target, was shot twice.

Five reputed gang members, including a 16-year-old boy, are being held without bail on attempted murder charges.