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PARK CITY -- Olympics hopeful Cody Marshall remains in the hospital nearly 10 days after he took a fall and landed on his head.
Since the accident a week ago last Wednesday, the family has shared Cody's progress with family and friends through a blog. Today they talked to us on camera and said every day Cody is improving.
Cody's older brother Jesse Marshall said, "Cody is still in critical condition. We're moving from minute to hour by hour, and it's starting to be more day by day."
"He has a long road ahead of him, but he's really strong and he's making improvements every day, which is encouraging," he told us.
Cody has been hospitalized since his fall last week, in Park City. Police say he was out with teammates when he about 30 feet from an escalator rail.
"When he fell he landed on his head, fractured his skull when he landed," Jesse said.
Jesse has kept a blog, letting family, friends and fellow skiers know about each new milestone Cody reaches.
"Two days ago he started physical therapy; and we can help, we move his arms around and his legs around which is great," Jesse said.
The next big step will be taking Cody off the ventilator, allowing him to breathe on his own. And Jesse says Cody is starting to wake up.
"He's opening his eyes when you talk to him, he's moving around a little bit," he said.
But because he suffered a brain injury, doctors aren't sure if it's Cody responding or human instincts. But Jesse is sure of one thing. "I personally believed he can absolutely hear us," he said.
Cody was at the prime of his ski career before he fell, preparing for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, his first Olympics, having only been on the ski team for two years.
If you ask Jesse if Cody will ever ski again, he replies, "Absolutely I do."
E-mail: abutterfield@ksl.com
