Michelle Whitney, the 13-year-old Bandon girl who suffered severe head injuries in a fall from a  farm truck on July 31, should be returning home for good in the next couple of weeks.

Her mother Janet Huntley said Michelle, who has been undergoing physical therapy at Legacy Emanuel Hospital and Health Center in Portland, will be home for a brief visit this weekend. She will return to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital on Monday for surgery to replace a portion of bone on her skull. Until then, she must wear a helmet at all times to protect her head.

After the surgery, Michelle is expected to return home for good.

Michelle spent almost four weeks at Doernbecher after the accident, much of that in a medically-induced coma to control the swelling in her brain. Once she was moved to Legacy Emanuel, her condition improved quickly and she was allowed to attend the Bandon Tigers football team’s season opener at Valley Catholic High School in Beaverton on Aug. 30. Her brother, Michael, plays for the Tigers.

After winning the game, the football team signed the ball and presented it to Michelle. Huntley said she is grateful for the kind gesture by the team and coaches and that Michelle cherishes the ball that was given to her.

The community also has held fundraisers to help pay for Michelle’s medical expenses, including a spaghetti feed sponsored by the VFW Hall Labor Day weekend that raised about $6,000.