Austin Sharp battles through head injury, released from hospital

After a long seven weeks, Austin Sharp, a Morgan County High School student who suffered massive head injuries after being struck by a car, is returning home. His mother, Laura Sharp, said that after the time away, they are both excited about being home but that there is still a lot of therapy they need to focus on.
    “I think the biggest thing is to get him a little more strong,” said Sharp.  Since the car wreck, which occurred in early February, Austin’s close family and friends have watched him recover through a series of steps, from breathing on his own, moving out of the coma, regaining full consciousness and eventually speaking.  
    Laura Sharp said that the first word he uttered was “hospital,” but that his next words were “I love you, Mom.”
    Currently, Sharp can communicate fully and intelligibly and can also walk with a walker, although he tires easily. Julie Vice, a friend of the Sharp family, said he is a little hesitant to talk and that he is more reserved than before the accident.
    Before the accident, Vice described Austin as polite, smart and talkative. “He is sweet, motivated, a lot of fun and driven to be somebody,” said Vice. Sharp’s quick recovery has been a surprise to the doctors and nurses caring for him, said Vice. She credited this fast recovery to both his good health and his tenacity. When Sharp was in the process of learning to communicate, he skipped the step of communicating with signs and went straight to speaking.
    And within a week Sharp went from standing to walking. Vice also credited this successful recovery with the prayer of those who love him and also those who do not even know him. There are people praying for Austin across the country who have heard about his situation.  She said that all of their prayers have been very obviously answered. From their prayers that he would wake from his coma, that he would be protected from pneumonia, that the feeding tube would be removed and that his vital signs would improve, all of these prayers have come to fruition, Vice said.
    Last Friday, Austin’s family and friends welcomed him home at a barbeque in Heritage Park and the Thursday before he was greeted by welcoming signs at the high school.
    Although he has returned home, Sharp still has a lot of recovery left. Laura and he will live at the Ronald McDonald house in Atlanta during the week while Austin attends therapy during the stay. His mother said that this therapy will be difficult for him because it will go from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and it will be very tiring for him.
    The therapy includes physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Laura Sharp said that speech therapy is what will prepare him for returning to school. 
    Before the accident, Sharp was planning to attend Boston University. The school is currently holding his spot and he plans to start the following school year.