Utah Little Leaguer, 12, takes his first steps in incredible hospital footage just days after he fractured his skull falling from a bunk bed: Doctors expect a ‘near complete recovery’
- Easton Oliverson fell out of his bunk in the team dormitory in Pennsylvania
- The 12-year-old suffered a fractured skull and was rushed to hospital for surgery
- The Little League took his first steps since surgery on Friday amid his recovery
- Doctors now expect a ‘near complete recovery’ from the pitcher and outfielder
- His family have said they are ‘astonished’ that he is communicating frequently
- Had he not gotten into surgery but 30 minutes later, he would have been dead
12-year-old Little Leaguer Easton Oliverson took another huge step on his journey to recovery as he walked again just days after undergoing emergency surgery to repair a skull fracture and brain bleed he suffered falling out of a bunk bed.
Easton, a pitcher and outfielder for the Snow Canyon team out of Santa Clara, Utah, suffered the injury Monday just days before he was due to make his Little League World Series debut and was listed in critical condition Tuesday.
A video Friday, on an Instagram account the family set up to share updates on his recovery, showed Easton being helped up to his feet by members of staff at the hospital and taking a few assisted steps.
Doctors expect a ‘near complete recovery’, which is huge news after they initially claimed the Little Leaguer could have died if he had not received surgery as soon as he did.
In the caption, the family wrote: ‘We are at a loss for words. There are none that seem fitting other than: God is Good. SO GOOD!
‘We love our Easton so much. Thank you for loving, and supporting him with us. Keep the prayers coming- he’s getting stronger everyday!’
12-year-old Little Leaguer Easton Oliverson took his first steps since undergoing emergency surgery to repair a skull fracture and brain bleed he suffered falling out of a bunk bed
On Thursday his family revealed that he was back in a standard hospital room and can communicate with his parents, Jace and Nancy, and other family members.
They said they were ‘astonished’ at the progress he was making and shared that he was speaking more frequently and clearly.
A video attached to the post also showed Easton drinking and feeding himself.
‘We are astonished by his strength and willingness to try new things,’ the post said. ‘He has been communicating more frequently with his Mom, Dad, and uncles who have been at the hospital with him.
‘His voice has been significantly more clear when he talks! He asked Nancy about his hair, and why he was there.’
His family is astonished at his progress as they revealed he is speaking more frequently
Easton was placed in a medically induced coma but is showing signs of progress, speaking more frequently and clearly and drinking and feeding himself, according to his family
Spencer Beck, Easton’s uncle, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Easton fell off the bed while he was sleeping and hit his head.
‘The teammates heard him fall, thank goodness,’ Beck said. ‘When they got into surgery, the doctor talked to Jace and said had he not gotten into surgery but 30 minutes later, he would have been dead.’
Easton FaceTimed with his coach Mark Ence, who said he told his 12-year-old player that he loved him and Easton said he loved the coach back.
‘It was great to hear his voice,’ Ence said.
Jace Oliverson (center) father of the Little Leaguer holds Easton’s medal, with his other son, Brogan Oliverson (6) at his side
Easton has been recovering in the hospital since the accident Monday. His MRI on Wednesday night came back normal, he has begun walking and walked to the bathroom on his own Friday morning, Ence said.
‘I´m not familiar with the recovery process of that sort of injury,’ Ence said. ‘But he definitely is improving and the family wanted to let everyone know that they are grateful for the thoughts and prayers and they feel like the prayers are working.’
Snow Canyon will make its Little League World Series debut in Williamsport on Friday at 3pm.
Ence spoke with reporters hours before Utah, representing the Mountain Region, played its first game of the tournament against Tennessee from the Southeast Region.
Easton was just days away from making his Little League World Series debut with the Snow Canyon team out of Santa Clara, Utah
Little League World Series officials announced in a statement Thursday that Snow Canyon was filling Easton´s open roster spot with his brother, Brogan Oliverson.
Little League said the addition of an eligible player is common in certain situations, including medical absence. The move was approved by the tournament committee and Brogan will be eligible to play in Friday´s game.
‘You´re allowed to have 14 on a roster,’ Ence said. ‘We had 13 and we were able to get Easton´s little brother Brogan to come and be with our team, so he arrived yesterday. The family is extremely excited. I think it´s going to be huge for the family in terms of the healing process to have Brogan be there.’
The coaching staff and parents have worked to keep the players´ attention on the upcoming games and enjoying the Little League World Series experience.
‘Being kids they bounce back pretty quick. They´ve enjoyed it here and stayed busy,’ Ence said. ‘It´s definitely been more stressful for the parents, but the kids are doing great.’
Easton was sleeping in a Pennsylvania dormitory bunk bed early Monday morning when he fell, fracturing his skull. Although he was initially alert, his conditioned soon worsened, according to the team.
Little League World Series officials announced Easton’s brother, Brogan, was filling the spot
A picture of Easton was shown on the scoreboard at Volunteer Stadium during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Little League World Series tournament on Wednesday
He was then rushed to a local hospital near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where doctors found that a piece of skull fragment had punctured an artery, causing bleeding in his brain, the boy’s uncle told the Salt Lake Tribune.
Oliverson’s family thanked everyone for the ‘love, support, and prayers,’ including a video from Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, the Little Leaguer’s favorite player.
‘Hey Easton, this is Mookie Betts,’ the two-time World Series winner began. ‘I just want you to know that we are praying for you, thinking of you, and I hope to see you soon, my man.’
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