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Injured Wyoming quarterback shows improvement at Billings hospital

Posted at 6:39 AM, Sep 24, 2019
and last updated 2019-09-24 08:39:25-04

A Powell, Wyo. teen who was seriously injured in a crash on the first day of school last month is improving.

On Saturday, Ethan Asher regained consciousness for the first time since the truck he was driving rolled three times after drifting off the road as he was driving to school.

He's since been at Billings Clinic unconscious with multiple broken bones, a severed spinal cord, and brain trauma.

RELATED: #EthanStrong: Powell community rallies behind star quarterback seriously hurt in car wreck

Ethan's mother made the update on Facebook, saying on Saturday morning he opened his eyes and said “hi” to a nurse.

The family was told Ethan's brain trauma was so severe that he may not talk again, so you can imagine the joy when the nurse brought his mother in asked Ethan if he recognized her and he slowly said "mom."

She said doctors have down-sized his trachea tube, and Ethan has been off his ventilator for a week.

His family is truly grateful for the overwhelming support but are cautiously optimistic and still asking for privacy.