MADISON, Wis. -- Liliana Mead is a 14-month-old child striving to overcome injuries that she suffered as a victim of shaken baby syndrome.

VIDEO: Watch The Report | SLIDESHOW: See Photos Of Liliana Mead

Health officials said that it's estimated one in five victims of shaken baby syndrome will die, but four out of five survive -- many with life-long disabilities.

The toddler is being cared for fulltime by her grandparents and legal guardians, Randy and Sherrie Mead, of Rockford. They said that they hope what happened to her won't happen to another child.

Liliana amazed doctors a year ago by surviving the abusive head trauma inflicted by her mother.

Randy and Sherrie Mead allowed WISC-TV into what is normally a very confidential world in the hopes of educating people that just seconds of infant trauma can last a lifetime.

It's estimated that as many as 1,400 cases of shaken baby syndrome are reported in the U.S. every year. But only a tiny fraction of the babies who survive go on to live normal lives.

So what happens to the others? Liliana Mead is one such baby.

At the Waisman Center at the American Family Children's Hospital, Liliana is getting loving care and lots of tests.

It has been a year since the then-4-pound infant was rushed to Madison with abusive head trauma, or shaken baby syndrome -- injuries that can linger long after they are inflicted.

"The child's brain is so vulnerable. Any shaking, any impact to a child can cause severe injury," said Dr. Barbara Knox, director of American Family Children's Hospital Child Protection Program.

Randy and Sherrie Mead said they are happy their granddaughter has come a long way, but they said they realize she still faces enormous challenges.

Liliana is on medication to control her seizures. She's legally blind, and has slow brain development, which are all effects of abusive head trauma inflicted by her mother.

"One of the doctors told us that they didn't think shed every leave the hospital," Randy Mead said. "She was on a feeding tube for a while in the hospital and some people thought she was going to be on that forever."

But Liliana's long-term recovery is the focus now. The past year has been full of doctor's visits, therapy and all kinds of tests.

"Everybody who's seen her just thinks that she's come a million miles further than where they thought she'd be," Mead said.

After another recent round of motor and cognitive skill testing, the Meads met with Knox for an honest but difficult discussion about the girl's future.

"She's borderline at 6 months right now, 6 months developmental level. That's astounding to me," Knox told the Meads. "I think it's just totally a credit to both of you and all of the work that you have done with her. It's just unbelievable. Honestly when I first saw her in the hospital I did not think she would ever function beyond a 2-month age level, a 2-month developmental level."

Hearing that for the first time was hard for the Meads, although they are happy that Liliana has far exceeded that original expectation.

The doctor's hardest news for the Meads, however, was yet to come.

"She has suffered just a tremendous brain injury in her infancy and i just want to make you aware that I think she will always have life-long struggles from a developmental standpoint," Knox told the Meads. "And you know, it's very hard for me to say that. I don't want to take hope away that you have for her future, but I think the level of injury that she has suffered is just so extreme that she will always need some care."

The Meads said the news of special needs and education was hard to hear.

"We're trying to do our best to make her as normal as we can but she's going to still have struggles her whole life. So, our thought is, if we can save one child from going through what she's gone through and what we've gone through, it's enough," Randy Mead said.

The Meads said they hope Liliana's story will help get the message out: that it's OK to walk away from a crying baby, if the baby is safe and secure, and collect yourself -- or better yet call someone.

To raise awareness, they're even launching a new Web site, MeadCharities.org, that will carry Liliana's and other survivor stories.

WISC-TV caught up with Liliana during a recent visit to the UW Child Protection Program. Since this story was shot about a month ago, Liliana's seizure medication had to be increased to ward off seizures. She's also gotten glasses, which doctor's said could perhaps stimulate the brain to help her see.

Parents who are under stress or in need of relief can contact the Parental Stress Center or call its area help line at 608-241-2221. The help line is staffed from 6 a.m. to midnight every day.

More information can also be found at The Exchange Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.

Note: This the second part of a two-part series on Liliana Mead and her family's struggles.