Ryan Phillips (18) sustained severe injuries after being struck by a car in Marama Ave South, Otatara, while walking home from a work party on September 25.
At the time, family feared for his life as he was in an induced coma for five days — but since then, he had overcome the challenges and been recovering at Dunedin Hospital.
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times yesterday, his father Nathan Phillips said after an improvement in his clinical state, his son was transferred to Southland Hospital last week.
He then had pelvis surgery on Monday, which took about six hours.
Surgeons were happy with the results, Mr Phillips said.
"They are hoping to get him standing up on his own, maybe today or tomorrow. They sat him up in bed for a wee while yesterday [Wednesday], so they are hoping to get him standing on his feet," Mr Phillips said.
This would be a milestone for his son as since the accident he had been unable to stand on his own, he said.
"It will be a miracle if he does, but I am sure he will get there."
While the surgery was a success, it also put pressure on his son’s lungs. He had to once again have the help of an oxygen machine as his lungs were not working as expected, he said.
"So basically he had one step forward and then a step back."
While his son was still sedated, he had asked a few questions about the accident, Mr Phillips said.
"He knows he was run over, but he doesn’t remember himself. He sort of asked a few questions, but we haven’t actually told him the whole extent of it ... [It is] probably better to let him concentrate in his recovery and not get worried about what has happened."
Doctors were waiting now for Ryan be able to breath on his own again so they can do surgery on his left wrist, which was broken during the accident, Mr Philips said.
While the family were humbled and thankful for all the support they had received, they asked people to wait to try to visit Ryan as they were trying to keep the numbers down so he could focus on his recovery.
A police spokesman said yesterday no charges had been laid at this stage and investigations were ongoing.
