SULPHUR, OK -- An 18-year old Texoma girl severely injured in a car accident last month is back at home following several surgeries.


Last night, she made a surprise return visit to her community.


Family, friends, classmates, and teachers of 18-year old Jayden Gray say they could feel a change after the night of December 17th.

"It affected not just the family but the kids here because they were all so close to her," said Lana Hilliard, a teacher a Sulphur High School.

But now they say there is a charge in the air after Gray returned home from an Oklahoma City hospital this past weekend.

"Just being able to see her she's such a miracle," said Hilliard. "Such a blessing."

Gray's friend Samantha Howe traded text messages with her while she was in the hospital and says the change is palpable.

"Everyone's more positive and upbeat knowing that she's home and everything," said Howe.

Friends and family call Jayden's recovery nothing short of miraculous. Several surgeries are still scheduled but she took one giant step toward recovery by returning to the community that's rallied around at Davis High School gym Tuesday night.

"It was really awesome to have her back," said Howe. "It lifted everyone's spirits a lot and the game was a whole lot more fun."

"The cheerleaders just come running from the side in an all-in-one hug, a team hug," said Clete Cole, principal at Sulphur High School. "I think last night kind of brought things back to perspective that, 'OK, Jayden is going to be back here and things are getting back to a little bit of normalcy.'"

A part of that return to normalcy was the celebration of a birthday, Jayden turned 19 on Monday.

Friends say she wished to return to school the very same day.

"It wouldn't shock me a bit if she was in school next week," said Cole

"She'd like to be back as soon as possible," said Hilliard. "She's a fighter."

"She's such a strong person I think if she wants to do anything she can," said Howe.

A GoFundMe account set up to raise money to offset medical bills for Gray and her family has raised a little more than $4,000.

 On January 31st, the Sulphur cheerleaders will team up with squads from Davis and Ada for a Sonic car hop day.

All tips gathered that day will benefit Gray and her family.

On February 4th, the Sulphur High Key Club will be hosting a blood drive at the high school with the Oklahoma Blood Institute. Anyone who donates can credit their donations to Jayden to help defray the cost of the blood she received while she was in the hospital.