The North Side toddler rescued after nearly drowning in her back porch wading pool on Wednesday remained in critical condition at Allegheny General Hospital yesterday, but relatives keeping vigil there said they were optimistic she would recover.

The 2-year-old's mother, Vikki Kopelic, said that Justice was in a coma and on a ventilator, but she had opened her eyes and responded to her mother's voice by squeezing her hand.

After her mother pulled her out of the water Wednesday, a friend and two emergency crews tried to revive her. Shortly after she arrived at the hospital, Justice responded to defibrillator shocks and began breathing.

Justice knew the alphabet song and was a big fan of Dora the Explorer, though doctors said she might not retain all that if she regains consciousness.

Kopelic, 25, of Marshall-Shadeland, said she understood how close she came to losing her daughter Wednesday.

"Everyone should learn CPR. You never know when you're going to need it," she said.