( CNN ) -- A 12-year-old Arkansas girl who was infected with a rare brain-eating parasite will finally go home Wednesday , according to Arkansas Children 's Hospital spokesman Tom Bonner . Soon after entering the hospital earlier this summer , Kali Hardig went into critical condition ; she was unresponsive and unable to breathe without the assistance of a breathing tube . Now she 's eating , drinking , smiling and talking . She has even been walking with assistance and swimming in the hospital 's therapeutic pool . A new photo released this week shows the dramatic improvement she has made . In the photo , Kali is sitting up in her hospital bed , smiling . Kali 's doctors have been in virtually uncharted territory as they treat her for the rare amoeba , called Naegleria fowleri . Of 128 known cases in the past half-century , just two patients have survived , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Kali is one of two 12-year-olds who recently contracted the amoeba . Zachary Reyna of Florida died last month of the parasite , even after receiving the same experimental drug that was given to Kali . He contracted the amoeba after kneeboarding in a water-filled ditch by his house August 3 , his family told CNN affiliate WBBH . Naegleria fowleri is found in hot springs and warm fresh water , most often in the southeastern United States . Between 2001 and 2010 , there were 32 reported cases in the United States , the CDC says . Most of the cases were in the Southeast . The amoeba enters the body through the nose and travels to the brain . You can not be infected with the organism by drinking contaminated water , the CDC says . `` This infection is one of the most severe infections that we know of , '' Dr. Dirk Haselow of the Arkansas Department of Health told CNN affiliate WMC about Kali 's case . `` Ninety-nine percent of people who get it die . '' Why 'nightmare bacteria ' on the rise . Dr. Sanjiv Pasala , one of Kali 's attending physicians , said they immediately started treating her with an anti-fungal medicine , antibiotics and a new experimental anti-amoeba drug doctors got directly from the CDC . They also reduced the girl 's body temperature to 93 degrees . Doctors have used that technique in some brain injury cases to preserve undamaged brain tissue . Two weeks ago , doctors checked the girl 's cerebral spinal fluid and could not find any presence of the amoeba . Pasala said that while other cases have not met with such favorable results , what may have made a real difference is that Kali 's mother got her to the hospital so quickly . Willow Springs Water Park in Little Rock is the most likely source of Kali 's infection , according to a news release from the Arkansas Department of Health . Another case of the same infection , also called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis , was reported in 2010 and was possibly linked to Willow Springs . `` Based on the occurrence of two cases of this rare infection in association with the same body of water and the unique features of the park , the ADH has asked the owner of Willow Springs to voluntarily close the water park to ensure the health and safety of the public , '' the news release said . What 's in your pool water ? The first symptoms of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis appear one to seven days after infection , including headache , fever , nausea , vomiting and a stiff neck , according to the CDC . `` Later symptoms include confusion , lack of attention to people and surroundings , loss of balance , seizures and hallucinations , '' the government agency 's website states . `` After the start of symptoms , the disease progresses rapidly and usually causes death within one to 12 days . '' CNN 's William Hudson , Jacque Wilson , Jen Christiansen , John Bonifield , Caleb Hellerman , Jennifer Bixler and Leslie Holland contributed to this story .
Kali Hardig , last month , is finally leaving CDC . Kali Hardig is walking with assistance during therapy sessions , hospital says . Kali Hardig causes brain infection , nearly always fatal , according to the Arkansas Children 's Hospital . Parasite generally found in people who swim in warm fresh water .