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OREM - Two months ago, 9-year-old Chase Makin's life changed in an instant when he fell from a playground slide and sustained a traumatic brain injury. After spending nearly a week on life support, his family fearing the worst but hoping for the best, Chase pulled through - and now, it seems he's made a nearly miraculous recovery.
As quick a return to good health as this seems, Chase has worked very hard to retrain his mind and body since his accident. But it's not all work -- physical therapy comes with a bonus swing. Chase loves to see how high can he go and how dizzy can he get and still be able to walk.
That's right: walk. When we met Chase two months ago, he was also in physical therapy, but he was barely moving his limbs and breathing on his own for the first time in weeks. He could not speak yet; he communicated by blinking twice for "no" and once for "yes."
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Chase Makin ften played at the Orem park near his home. On Jan. 15, he wanted one quick run on the slide. But 9-year-old Chase fell 15 feet from the top, hitting his head. He was flown to Primary Children's Medical Center with traumatic brain injury.In mid-January, Chase fell 15 feet from the top of a playground slide, hitting his head. He was rushed to Primary Children's Medical Center with brain trauma. For days, he clung to life, his family unsure whether their son would recover -- and if he did, just how much they could expect from their son.
But that's in the past.
"I can run, I can walk, I can eat," Chase proudly told KSL.
He does not remember the accident, but he does remember his first word afterward: "First I said my mom's name."
Chase knows many people prayed for his recovery, and still do. He offered simple words of gratitude and joy: "Thank you!"
Chase received more good news recently. Because of the work he has done at home and will do this summer, he will not have to repeat the third grade; he will move forward with his classmates to the fourth grade.
