A 6-year-old boy that was in coma after a lawn mower accident is now awake and eating
A 6-year-old boy in Wisconsin who was in a coma for a week after a mower accident is finally awake.
Kenosha County investigators said the odds are almost unimaginable that a small rock and a lawn mower nearly killed Alex Hook.
"Is this nothing short of a miracle?" sister station WISN asked Alex's aunt, Michelle Koertgen.
"To us it is. He is awake and alert, speaking and as of yesterday, he's eating, and he's thrilled to death about that," Koertgen said.
On Sept. 10, Alex was playing at recess at Riverview Elementary in Silver Lake, Wisconsin, when investigators say a landscaper mowing a median kicked out a rock that hit the first-grader who was 70 feet away.
First responders flew him to Children's Wisconsin, where doctors removed a piece of his skull lodged in his brain.
"He knows he has a big boo boo. He knows it happened at school. He does recall being at school, but he also knows he wants to get out of bed," Koertgen said.
Alex's aunt said her nephew's road to recovery is a bit unknown. He's battling some brain swelling and said it could be months before they know the extent of his brain damage.
"There's definitely signs that he has some hindrances on the right side, so until they're able to get him out of bed, we don't know if he can walk yet," Koertgen said.
They're hopeful the little fighter will keep staying strong.
"Just to hear him talk, and giggle the other day, that just melted my heart," Koertgen said.
Alex's family is also thankful for the community's support.
He may be in the hospital for weeks, even months.