Here's Nick. On December 8, 2006 while helping clean up after a school dance, 13-year old Nick Hillman's life was changed forever when a table collapsed on him causing multiple hematoma to the back of his head and brain swelling that nearly ended his life. After multiple surgeries and weeks of slow progress, Nick advanced to a point to be sent home in mid January.
The very next day, Nick started therapy at the John Heinz Intitute, where therapists would begin to transform his physical life back to some semblance of his pre-accident one. Nick followed the regimen of therapy and in the proceeding months demonstrated determination like no other. Nick recovered to the point of returning to school in late March and finished the school year with his classmates. Almost miraculously, Nick is now able to play the saxophone again and perform most activities that he had done prior to the accident. Considered a really good athlete prior to his accident, Nick participated in basketball, track and field. He now tells his mother and sister, "I think I'll take up golf."