BYU student paralyzed in bounce house accident making a 'remarkable recovery'


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TOOELE — The accident was catastrophic and took a Tooele family by surprise. They went to the Draper LDS Temple Aug. 29, and by evening they were in the ICU with their son, paralyzed and struggling to breathe. But Josh Hinton is recovering at "warp speed."

Hinton and his family said miracles are happening. As he wheeled himself down the hallway of the Craig Hospital in Denver, his mom counted her blessings.

"I rub his feet three times a day and he tells me, 'Right foot, big toe,'" said Jen Hinton. "He's started identifying with his eyes closed as I'm rubbing him."

Support has poured out since his accident, including thousands of messages on his popular Facebook page: Team Hinton.

"There are about 4,000 people praying for me and fasting for me," Josh Hinton said. "I do not think that is just a little part of why this is happening."

Hinton, a ballet dancer, broke his neck Aug. 29 running through a bounce house obstacle course next to the main student center at Brigham Young University.

He couldn't breathe or feel anything.

Just over two weeks ago, doctors transported him to the renowned Craig Hospital in Denver.

Monday, Josh Hinton experienced some feeling in his thigh, Jen Hinton said.

"As I was rubbing his feet he said, 'Mom, I can feel my thigh move when you rub my feet.' And that was just brand-new today.'"

Dancers from the Anaheim Ballet, where he spent the summer, have reached out. Singer Alex Boye sang to Josh Hinton from his hospital bed. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also visited. The support is paying off, Hinton said.

He can now brush his teeth and feed himself watermelon from a toothpick.

Hinton's recovery is moving at "warp speed," according to his mom, who said his doctors are amazed, too. He's working hard on his upper-body strength and can wheel himself around unassisted. They say he never wallows in self-pity, but simply gets up each day and says, "What's on the agenda?"


There are about 4,000 people praying for me and fasting for me. I do not think that is just a little part of why this is happening.

–Josh Hinton


"It definitely is very satisfying to be able to take care of myself a little bit," Josh Hinton said. "I'm definitely going to have to work on it because it wears me out so fast right now."

Staffers at the hospital are teaching Hinton daily survival skills. They say he's recovering so quickly because of his determination and hard work. He wants to thank everyone for their prayers.

"Thank you so much for the support," Hinton said. "Every little message helps so much."

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