ROCHESTER, N.Y. — On a chilly November morning, Ny’Kira Hall arrives at the Mary Cariola Children's Center bundled up, as her blanket says, ‘in love.’

This little girl, who has been through so much, is very much loved by the teachers and therapists who work with her every day, and especially by her aunt, Denita McCullough, who has cared for her since her injury.

Ny’Kira was only 14-months-old in 2015 when her father, Nikey, beat her, causing a severe brain injury that left her with permanent brain damage.

Nikey Hall was convicted of assault and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Denita is today her legal guardian, and really, her mom.

“I was just happy for everything to be over and Ny’Kira to be safe, and she's safe with me. She's just growing into a beautiful little girl. It's just a miracle," said McCullough.

Before her injury, Ny’Kira was a healthy and happy little girl. After she was beaten, doctors said she would never walk or talk again. She is also legally blind.

But she has been getting medical treatment and intense therapy that Denita says has taught her to sit up, eat by mouth and communicate.

In September, Ny'Kira started preschool at Mary Cariola.

“We serve children through the county and surrounding counties with intense services they wouldn’t be able to get in their own districts,” said Sarah Peters, Mary Cariola Children’s Center preschool director. “Ny’Kira came to us in September not really being able to feed herself, and now we've provided her with an adaptive spoon so she's able to grasp the spoon and bring it to her mouth. Our goal is to help her be as independent as possible, in whatever that looks like."

Ny’Kira will begin Mary Cariola full-time next year, so Denita wanted to help her get used to the transition by starting her now with half-days.

This past weekend, they threw Ny’Kira a special birthday party, but it was a party with a purpose. Denita needs a wheelchair-accessible car to help Ny’Kira get around as she gets older.

“I'm having a hard time putting her in and out of the car, getting her wheelchair around town and getting it in and out of the car,” said McCullough.

Ny’Kira has many challenges ahead, including surgery later this week. Despite those, there are still many plans for this little girl's future.

“We want her to able to walk one day. We want her to be able to talk one day. We want to her continue growing and we're going to keep continuing to give her the love she needs to do that," said McCullough.

Anyone wishing to help Ny’Kira and her family can do so here.