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Amanda Butterfield reporting An early gift for a Tremonton, Utah couple. Their son, who survived a beating from his babysitter, is home from the hospital.
Shance Bennett: "It's exciting to get him home before Christmas."
The babysitter admitted to beating the 18-month-old boy, and was in court today. Now she may lose her own kids. But for the Bennetts, having their baby home in time for Christmas, is all they wanted.
It's been over a month that Ryker Bennett has been in Intensive Care at Primary Childrens Medical Center. But tonight, he's spending the night back at home with his family, for the first time in 36 days.
Wheeled out in style, Ryker Bennett's parents have been waiting a long time to get their baby back.
Shane Bennett: "It was a long haul, but we pulled together and got through it."
When Ryker was first brought to Primary Children's, he had only a 10 percent chance of living through the night.
Chelsea Bennett/Mother: "He's pulled through and he's amazed even the surgeons here. So, we're happy."
Chelsea Bennett/Mother: "It will be the best Christmas ever."
But earlier today, the Bennett's weren't so happy, as they faced their son's abuser in court.
In November, 23-year-old Britney Johnson told the Bennett's Ryker fell off the bed while she was watching him at her home. But she later confessed to kicking him in the stomach, which broke his ribs, caused internal bleeding, and a concussion.
The judge set a court date later this month for Johnson, and witnesses say she appeared cheerful through it all, even chuckling. Now, though, her oldest child is in the custody of his father.
But the Bennett's don't want to think about Johnson tonight.
Chelsea Bennett/Mother: "We're focused on him right now."
Besides physical therapy to teach Ryker how to walk again, he's got a clean bill of health for the future. But his mom knows they may have to revisit all this.
Chelsea Bennett: "One day I'm sure it's going to come up. He's going to have a scar, an eight-inch scar that will be our reminder and his. One day it will come up and we'll have to approach this again."
But now's not the day to think about that.
The scar Ryker has on his stomach is from all the surgeries he went through while he was at the hospital. He also still has a feeding tube for the next little while. And when he's older, he may have to have one more surgery to get rid of any built up scar tissue.
