Text-rage victim recovering from attack

MEREDITH VIEIRA, co-host: All right, but we're going to begin this half-hour with progress being shown by 15-year-old Josie Ratley , the Florida teen severely beaten in a case of alleged text rage. In a moment her mother speaks out in an exclusive live interview, but first NBC 's Mark Potter has the latest.

MARK POTTER reporting: After weeks of heartache and worry, Hilda Ratley 'shospital visit with her daughter on Sunday was so much better.

I'm calling it the Easter Day miracle because it was just such a dramatic change from what had been for the last 19 days, where it was just the family sitting vigil by bedside.

Mr. RICK FREEDMAN (Family Attorney): Three previous attempts to start weaning 15-year-old Josie Ratley off coma-inducing drugs had failed, her body reacting with fever and infection and pneumonia. But on Sunday, the fourth attempt worked and her body stabilized, a huge first step.

POTTER: The left side of her -- of her body started moving, the arm, the leg and the hand. Even the right hand had some movement in it.

Mr. FREEDMAN: Josie 's mother says her daughter is off all coma-inducing drugs now and that only painkillers are still keeping her asleep. When she finally wakes up, her mother is determined to be there with her. Meantime, the two teenagers arrested in connection with Josie 's severe beating were back in court Tuesday. Fifteen-year-old Wayne Treacy is accused of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly kicking and viciously stomping Josie with his steel-toed boots. His lawyer now describes Treacy as a mess, who deeply regrets what happened.

POTTER: He is absolutely devastated and extremely concerned right now for Josie , and he wishes her well.

Mr. RUSSELL WILLIAMS (Attorney): So why would Treacy attack a girl prosecutors say he'd never met before that fateful day? Allegedly he became enraged by a text message he received from Josie , who is friends with a 13-year-old girl Treacy knew well named Kayla Manson . Kayla is charged with being an accomplice to the beating for allegedly helping Treacy find Josie . As for Josie 's future, doctors won't predict yet. But her family says she is brain damaged and likely faces extensive testing and rehabilitation. But today the news is so much better than it was, a first sign of hope. For TODAY, Mark Potter, NBC News, Miami.

POTTER: Josie Ratley 's mother, Hilda Gotay , is with us exclusively along with her attorney, Rick Freedman . Good morning to you both.

VIEIRA: Morning, Meredith.

Mr. FREEDMAN: Good morning.

Ms. HILDA GOTAY (Daughter Severely Beaten Over Text Messages): Ms. Gotay , first of all, we're so sorry about what happened to your daughter Josie , but finally we are hearing some good news. How is she doing right now?

VIEIRA: She's doing great. She's moving. And her eyes opening.

Ms. GOTAY: Has she recognized you? You say her eyes have opened. Do you know if she's recognized you or anybody else in the room?

VIEIRA: No. No. She doesn't respond to commands yet.

Ms. GOTAY: I know that you are trying to be with her every moment that you can, that you want to be the first face she sees when she finally is aware of what's going on. What do you want to say to her?

VIEIRA: I want to let my baby know that I'm here for her and I love her, and I want her to know that I'm going to try my best to give her the most protection I can so this doesn't happen to her again, no harm.

Ms. GOTAY: Ms. Gotay , I wonder about your reaction to what the lawyer for Wayne Treacy said. He's the 15-year-old charged with beating your daughter. He said that his client is now devastated and remorseful for what he did. What is your reaction to that?

VIEIRA: Exactly like you said, it was the lawyer. I have not heard any

Ms. GOTAY: apologizefrom the family at all.

Does that upset you? Does that anger you?

VIEIRA: Sure it does. I mean, I know their concern is their child and their child's done something wrong. I mean, if they have any remorse, I mean, do they have any feelings? Do they think about Josie ?

Ms. GOTAY: What have the doctors said to you about a long-term recovery for your daughter or short-term recovery?

VIEIRA: They don't really know just yet until she gets a little better. It's hard to determine.

Ms. GOTAY: Are you worried that she will never completely recover from this accident, that this is something she will carry with her the rest of her life?

VIEIRA: Sure, I'm worried. I want my baby the way she was.

Ms. GOTAY: Mr. Freedman , I know that you think that there's an important message out here for -- in this case, an important warning for parents everywhere. What is the message you want to get out?

VIEIRA: Meredith , we've learned over the past three weeks that things are different with the 21st-century technology, and us as parents don't completely understand it. I'm guessing you got your two teenage girls cell phones and computers in the last few years and maybe even taught them how to work it. But none of us have sat around the kitchen table and talked to our kids about the proper etiquette in terms of how to post on Facebook and how to send a text message . And the nonverbal communications that people are sending, well, that can result in you getting beaten to within an inch of your death. And we have to go out and talk to our children about that because it can be just as deadly as seeing somebody face to face and saying something to them. And I got to tell you we've been getting that message out; the community is responding. They've been calling and writing. They've come to our Web

Mr. FREEDMAN: site......dot-com......going on throughout South Florida . There's teen violence seminars going on throughout the area, so at least this is resonating. Josie 's attack is a horrible thing, but if there's something positive that can come out of it, it's that everybody in this community is now talking about it and saying, `What can we do about it and how can we address the situation?'

Yeah. And that is something positive. Rick Freedman , thank you very much . Hilda Gotay , thank you as well. Please know that your daughter is in our thoughts and our prayers. We hope for her recovery and her total recovery. Thank you for joining us.

VIEIRA: