On a fateful day last September, 9-year-old John Henry was playing with his cousin when armed robbers broke into the apartment and opened fire. John Henry was wounded in the head and unable to walk before coming to St. Mary’s for intensive rehabilitation.

Immediately after the accident, John Henry was rushed to an acute care hospital for extensive eye and brain surgery. His condition stabilized, but John Henry lost his eye and was left partially paralyzed. He was then admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital for Children at the recommendation of his doctor who believed “it was absolutely the best place for his care.”

John Henry may have lost his ability to walk, but not his determination. He started an intensive course of physical, occupational and other therapies in St. Mary’s Traumatic Brain Injury program with tremendous results.

“His recovery is miraculous,” said Brian Connolly, John Henry’s physical therapist. “When he first arrived, all he could do was lie on the floor and roll himself onto one side.” Through the constant encouragement of his therapists, nurses, and doctors, John Henry progressed to climbing stairs. Shortly after, he began to walk with an assistive device. Each new step was a tremendous milestone. Within 5 months of his arrival, John Henry was able to walk out the doors of St. Mary’s on his own.

“Our family is thankful to St. Mary’s for helping to make John Henry healthy again,” remarked Melissa Montalban, John Henry’s mother.

John Henry went home in March, returned to school, and is receiving ongoing rehabilitative therapies from St. Mary’s Home Care program. While the accident has limited his physical activities, it hasn’t completely slowed him down. He still enjoys wiffle ball, racing on scooters in his adaptive Physical Education class at school, and playing video games with his dad. To recognize his courage and comeback, John Henry was chosen as the Grand Marshall of the 2007 Walk for St. Mary’s Kids.

Click here to watch a video of John Henry.