Dax's Story

In November 2007 a devastating spinal cord injury changed the lives of one family.  Daxton Hicks age 23 months suffered C1-C3 spinal cord injury while doing what normal kids do everyday…......play. This level of injury can be the most catastrophic injury a SCI patient can have as it leaves many patients paralyzed from the neck down for life.

Dax was such a patient being unable to move anything below his neck 2 months post injury.  Miraculously Dax moved his hand one night beating the doctor’s predications and stunning the world.  Dax then spent 6 months fighting for his life at Cook’s Children’s Medical Center drawing his strength from his family and complete strangers thru prayer and support. 

Thru his hard work and determination Dax came home wheelchair bound but showing signs of being far from his plateau of recovery.  In the year since Dax has been home he and his family have waged a war on not being victims of this injury but being proactive in fighting this injury.

Dax has continued to prove the statistics wrong and his recovery (at Camp Hope Therapy group in Waco Texas) is far from over.  His rigorous schedule consist of pre-school, intense therapy five days a week, horseback riding, playing with his cars, watching movies, reading books, hanging out by the pool, and beating up on his daddy.   

Therapy is an essential part of Dax's life.  The therapist at Camp Hope are our second family along with the nurses who watch Dax during the day.  Mobility exercises, stretching, diet, and confidence building  makes Dax's life seem like that of an Olympic athlete.  These steps are crucial to insure that one day Dax will walk again.

Dax is very co-operative with all these activities.  They are just a part of his normal routine and a fact of life.  To never give up on the hope that he will walk again takes extra steps to ensure he works hard even when he is not up to it that day.  It is sometimes hard for us and Dax, but we keep their eye on the big picture.  Nothing is impossible when it comes to a pediatric SCI.  They adapt as Dax has to their "normal life". 

Gifted intellectually he always keeps us on our toes. He has his daddy's sense of sarcastic humor and his mom's sense of keeping everything in order.  Dax recently tested at a five year old level with his cognitive and social skills.  This put him out of contention for enrolling in public school special needs classes. 

He is truly a comedian, seeing how funny things in life are.  When asked by his school mates why he is in a chair he sometimes replies "cause I go faster in a chair".  He is fully aware that he is different, not special, but amazing.

We always knew Dax would do great things in his life and touch so many people.  We just didn't know he would do that at such a young age.  Watching his continued recovery, it has let people know that thru prayer and our Lord, anything is possible.  There are still many special things to be done.  Our work is not over yet.