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Kenneth Stithem and Kirsten Steinke embrace. - Source: Facebook -
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A newly married American woman who was seriously injured in a road crash which killed her husband has been transferred out of intensive care.
Kirsten Steinke, 28, was hospitalised after the car she and her husband Kallan Stithem, 31, were travelling in hit a truck near Waitomo Caves last month.
The newlyweds were in New Zealand for their honeymoon.
Stithem died at the scene, while Steinke was rushed to hospital, where she has been fighting for her life in intensive care.
Today she was transferred to the newly opened high-dependency unit at Waikato Hospital.
Steinke's condition is now listed as serious but stable.
Her parents said her condition had improved to the point where she can begin her recovery and gather her strength.
Jim and Gerri Steinke said their daughter was continuing to communicate with them and hospital staff "thanks to the world wide efforts of support and prayer by so many".
Messages of support from New Zealand and the US have been posted on Waikato DHB's Facebook and Twitter pages.
"We would like to take this time to thank all the nurses, consultants, support staff, and registrars in the ICU for their tireless efforts in caring for Kirsten," her parents said.
"We would like to give a special thank you to Annette Forrester and maxillofacial surgeons Steve Evans and Simon Lou for ensuring that Kirsten's jaw surgery was accomplished before more serious problems developed.
"Daunting obstacles of staffing, coordination, and unexpected emergencies were overcome to speed Kirsten's healing."