COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A woman who went into a vegetative state in November of 2000 awoke this week for three days, spoke with her family and a local television station before slipping back on Wednesday.

"I'm fine," Christa Lilly told her mother on Sunday -- her first words in eight months. She has awakened four other times for briefer periods.

"I think it's wonderful. It makes me so happy," Lilly said. She also got to see her youngest daughter, Chelcey, now 12 years old, and three grandchildren.

Her neurologist, Dr. Randall Bjork, said he couldn't explain how or why she awoke.

"I'm just not able to explain this on the basis of what we know about persistent vegetative states," he said.

A vegetative state is much like a coma except her eyes remain open.

"The good Lord let me know she's alright, he brings her back to visit every so often and I'm thankful for that," said Minnie Smith, her mother and caregiver after Christa slipped back into the vegetative state.

After she awoke she said the thing she missed most was eating cake.

After suffering a heart attack and then a stroke in November 2000, Lilly slipped into a coma.

Her family has cared for her for the past six years, not knowing what her future held.

Then on Sunday Lilly woke up, and was now talking and eating all by herself.

Her mother said she had woken up four times before, but never like this.

Lilly said it has been frustrating learning to talk again, but she looked forward to getting to know her three grandchildren born while she was asleep, according to ABC News.