A YOUNG mother left with a severe brain injury after a horrific attack is to be moved to a nursing home after medics said there is nothing more they can do for her.
Joleen Corr can do little more than open and close her eyes following the assault at her Downpatrick home on December 1 last year.
The trained beautician also suffered a broken jaw, 49 bruises all over her body, facial injuries and an ear injury.
A man has been charged with attempted murder in connection with the assault.
Yesterday, Joleen was at her family home in Beechmount in west Belfast on a third short visit from Musgrave Park Hospital's specialist brain injury clinic.
Her devoted mother Carol said they are waiting for a place in a nursing home near them that can care for the 26-year-old.
"There's nothing else they can do for her. It's just a nursing home for her care and needs," she said.
"She can't talk, can't walk, can't eat, doesn't communicate. Nothing will change. There's no quality of life. Sometimes her body goes into spasm. She started taking seizures recently, but they got them under control.
"The doctors said she's there in body but not there in mind.
"(When she's in the nursing home) I'll bring her home every day for a couple of hours. She needs round the clock care."
Joleen has a young son, James, who has seen his mother in the hospital.
"The nurses had her beautiful and had her all pink," Mrs Corr said.
Relatives congregated for her visit home yesterday, celebrating with iced doughnuts and chicken nuggets.
All were keeping the atmosphere upbeat, just glad to have Joleen home again, however briefly.
Ten-year-old sister Christine painted her fingernails vibrant shades and her mother and sister Cherie braided her dark hair.
"She would always have painted Christine's nails and now Christine is doing it for her," Mrs Corr said.
Her young godson and nephew Alfie also gave her a tender kiss on the cheek as he sat on her knee.
