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Neighbours rally to help family of Calgary boy who suffered brain injury in pedestrian crash

Click to play video: 'Neighbours rally to help family of boy hurt in pedestrian crash'
Neighbours rally to help family of boy hurt in pedestrian crash
WATCH ABOVE: The community of Cranston is trying to find a tangible way to support a family facing an uncertain future, after their 8-year-old son was hit by a pickup truck and suffered a brain injury. Jill Croteau reports – Mar 21, 2016

CALGARY – The community of Cranston is trying to find a tangible way to support a family facing an uncertain future.

Eight-year-old Ethan Nielson suffered a brain injury after his was hit by an oncoming pickup truck last Thursday evening.

READ MORE: Child airlifted to hospital after being hit by car in southeast Calgary

He was on his way home from piano lessons when he was struck.

The family is now spending time at his bedside, hoping for any signs of recovery.

“We have a long road ahead of us, that much we know, but how long will be determined by Ethan,” his mom Melanie Nielson said in a Facebook post Tuesday.

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She said Ethan suffered a “diffuse axial injury” which means the young boy has lesions in the white matter of his brain. Doctors told her it could be a week or two before Ethan fully comes out of sedation.

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“He will likely struggle with cognitive behaviour and his right side is expected to lag in recovery from his left,” Nielson said. She went on to say the family is taking his recovery one day at a time.

“My heart is full. I love Ethan so very much, and it breaks me to see him suffer, but I am cheering him on every step of the way.”

Friends and neighbours have initiated ways to help the family through their difficult journey.

The family has also set up a GoFundMe page with more information.

Watch Global’s March 17 report on the crash below:

Click to play video: 'A boy clings to life after being hit in SE Calgary'
A boy clings to life after being hit in SE Calgary

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