Teen's Amazing Recovery after Hit and Run Crash

By Angela Monroe

CREATED Mar. 21, 2013

  • Print

  • Back in September, Grant Virgin was in a coma, fighting for his life. Now, he is back in school part-time and growing stronger every day. Video by kmir6.com

    video

 A Palm Desert teen is making a remarkable recovery after being hit by a vehicle six months ago.

Back in September, Grant Virgin was in a coma, fighting for his life.
Now, he is back in school part-time and growing stronger every day.
When you meet Grant today, it's difficult to believe the 16-year-old suffered life-threatening injuries to his head and body.
His family shared with us his amazing story of recovery, that some call a miracle.
 
Grant Virgin is back in class, and ready to return to the life of an independent teen.
"I told them I can walk, they're like, they're still making sure, they're like really, you want to bet," said Grant.
Half a year ago, an unknown driver hit Grant as he walked to a friend's home, the driver just drove away.
But Grant is making incredible progress from the traumatic brain injury he suffered.
"Like parting of the Red Seas type miracle and numerous doctors have explained it exactly like that, there's no explanation for him in medicine," said Grant's father, John Virgin.
Grant returned to school part-time at Palm Desert High a month and a half ago.
"To see a student go from such sad dire circumstances to the kind of young man that you've seen today, where he's well on his way back to a recovery," said Dr. Benton Dorman, a program specialist with special education for Desert Sands Unified School District.
And Grant, always an athletic teen, is looking forward to new challenges and achievements.
"My legs aren't strong enough to jump down, I can't do that, but soon I'll be able to," said Grant.
Grant trains several times a week at Kinetix Health and Performance Center in Palm Desert.
"What we decided to do is bring him home to his environment, and then get our own amazing team of experts," said Grant's mother, JJ Virgin.
JJ Virgin is a fitness expert, and says the key is to never give up.
"They told us he wasn't going to make it, they told us he was never going to wake up, they told us he'd never talk, he'd never walk, they told us he wasn't going to be able to hear again," said JJ.
The Virgin family says the community has helped pave the path to Grant's recovery.
"All of the things that people have been able to do and bring to his life, and he's now able to give back," said John.
"Just say thank you," said Grant.
Grant's 17th birthday is coming up on April 22nd, and his amazing recovery is a gift in itself.
The driver who hit Grant, still has not been found or come forward.