Beating the odds: 'I really believed he was going to die'
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VANCOUVER, Wash. – A young man is back home after doctors in California gave him little chance of surviving a serious brain injury.
Tyler Burton, 21, nearly died after falling and hitting his head on the pavement after someone hit him in the face in October in Chico, Calif.
He was in California to play football at Shasta College in Redding.
Burton's mother, Kimberly Hash, said Thursday doctors first said her son was going to die but then they said if he lived he would have no brain activity. But Burton suddenly began to recover and is now able to talk in sentences.
"I really believed he was going to die, and they put the skull cap back on – he just kept doing better, and it was awesome," said Hash.
The breakthrough moment was when Burton's family said a nurse held up some pictures and said, 'Who's your mom?' and he reached out and touched the picture of his mother.
Burton has been in a Chico hospital ever since his accident, but he arrived at the PeaceHealth Southwest Washington Medical Center Thursday to the cheers of family and friends. He will stay at the hospital and learn to walk again.
"Probably through the worst hell that I've ever went through," said Roddy Hash, Burton's stepfather. "I don't want to ever have anything to do with something like that again because we thought we were losing him."
Burton is doing better. He's now moving, talking, recognizing people and even standing for the first time on his own Wednesday.
His mother said Burton is going to go through five or six hours of rehab a day at PeaceHealth, and it is very painful and difficult for him. But she said he has the will to do it.
God Speed............................And Mark.....You Knew this Day would Come........Its Gonna Be A HAPPY NEW YEAR !!! Much LOVE to ALL !!!!!
Snaps to the nurse who helped create the breakthrough moment for Tyler! I'd like to see her mentioned by name; she deserves it. Way to go, Tyler - keep on keepin' on, Kiddo!
This is another miracle of God and his love for us, yet we fail to recognize it. How sad. Thank you God for showing us that your still with us.
 @ghost rider If God is responsible for this miracle, where was he on December 14th? Does he love this child more than those others?
I wish him all the best in his recovery.
I hope whomever hit him was charged with attempted murder or attempted manslaughter or something.
Awesome! Good luck with your full recovery Tyler. On another note, Kimberly is hot.Â
Best wishes for a continued speedy recovery Tyler. Â
way to go!! keep up the great work!
A miracle in the making! Gotta love the will to live! Good luck, kiddo! You are doing great!
I'm glad to hear he's making such a quick recovery. Â For such a serious injury this sounds like some great progress!
 @knottriel It totally is. Brain injuries are really a tough break.
Great smiles! Very happy for this family. =)
A great kid and he survived a real trauma - he will overcome this and come back even stronger!!
Aww. What a heartwarming story! Best of luck to him.
Burton just keep on doing good and soon you will be back to your old self again. Â Good luck and best wishes on a full recovery!