A London boy critically injured in a hit-and-run crash has begun a miraculous emergence from a two-month coma.

Tyler Brooks-Szabo, 10, still faces a long and uncertain journey, his stepmother said.

But for the first time since the boy was hit by a car as he rode his bike along Wexford Ave. Oct. 25, his friends and family have a first glimpse of hope in action.

Tyler has opened his eyes.

“It’s amazing. It really is a ­miracle,” said Tyler’s stepmother, ­Hillary Szabo.

“Going through such a ­traumatic experience to, only in a couple of months, being able to open your eyes, it’s huge progress.”

Tyler’s father, Louie, his step-mother and stepsister Haedyn Hartwick, visited him in hospital Christmas Day.

They say the youngster known for his love of basketball and ­soccer has a long road ahead.

He’s unable to speak, eat or get out of bed and it’s unknown when he’ll be able to return home. He can’t yet communicate and the crash left him with severe head injuries and a cracked pelvis.

“Ty’s eyes opened and stared right at us. I smiled and started to tear up,” Szabo said of the family’s visit to his room on Wednesday.

The Grade 4 pupil at Sherwood Forest elementary school was with two friends returning from a trip to a nearby store to pick up soft drinks before settling in to watch a movie when a vehicle struck Tyler, then left the scene.

Tyler was riding on the sidewalk, as is allowed by London bylaw, and was wearing his helmet.

His family has started raising money, by selling bracelets and through a separate trust fund, in the expectation there will be extra expenses associated with his care once he leaves hospital.

Toby Van Lieshout, 35, of Ingersoll, is charged with leaving a crash scene, drug possession, driving with a suspended licence, careless driving and using a licence plate not authorized for the vehicle.

Van Lieshout is due back in court Jan. 31.

His wife, Rebecca Smith, 39, faces charges of accessory after the fact of an offence, assaulting police, drug possession, allowing an unlicensed person to drive her vehicle and driving without insurance.

dale.carruthers@sunmedia.ca

twitter.com/DaleatLFPress

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HOW YOU CAN HELP



Bracelets

Prayers for Tyler fundraising bracelets are on sale at these outlets:

B-Back Pawnbrokers locations, 978 Oxford St. E., 215 Wharncliffe Rd. S., 771 Southdale Rd. E.

The Hungary Butcher, 892 Dundas St.

Trust fund

Donations can be made at any TD Canada Trust, branch no. 2932 and account no. 6313211. Name of the trust is Bethany Joyce and Michael Wiggins in trust for Tyler Brooks