The family of Ethan Nielson, 8, is giving back to the community as their son recovers from being hit by a truck.

Ethan is getting a little better each day, smiling at visitors and moving about in his wheelchair.

“I feel really happy about how well he is doing, it’s very exciting every time you see him do something new,” said Ethan’s father Jordan.

It’s a long way from March 22nd when he was walking with his sister to piano lessons, the day he was hit by a truck while crossing the road near his home in Cranston.

He was rushed to hospital by helicopter that day in critical condition with serious brain injuries and a fractured pelvis.

“They told us it didn't look good. His chances of making it were not good,” said Jordan.

Ethan spent two and a half weeks comatose, but now is making great progress.

The sympathy of friends, family and the public helped the family pull through the hardest days, but now they find they are awash in cards and stuffed animals, and have decided to reach out to other families with injured children.

“We’ve been blessed with so many people wanting to help us, and we have more than we need, and it’s not the normal thing, all of these other patients aren’t getting all this attention, so my wife came up with this idea that we should find a way for the people who want to help us can do so by helping the other patients.”

The Nielsons are now collecting new toys and games to give to kids staying at the hospital long-term.

As for the family, they are about to get the best gift yet.

“Tomorrow we should be able to take him home for a few hours and the whole family is pretty excited about that,” said Melanie Nielson, Ethan’s mother.

If you want to help out, you can drop donations off at Alberta Children’s Hospital, care of Ethan Nielson. All toys must be new and free of corporate branding.

A few examples of suitable donations:

  • small stuffed animals (all store tags must be left on)
  • board games
  • playing cards
  • balls
  • playdoh
  • crayons, markers, colouring books, stickers
  • books and comics rated G-PG (must not have any violent content or images)
  • DVD movies rated G-PG (must be suitable for children and youth)