Hang in there Mate!!!!!
Liam's smile best tonic for heartbroken family
CLEMENTINE CUNEO, POLICE REPORTER
The Daily Telegraph
January 26, 2013 12:00AM
IT was the cheeky smile that signalled to Liam Knight's family he was alive.
As doctors removed the breathing tubes from the critically ill teen's throat on Thursday to see if he could breathe unassisted, Liam's older brother Shane cracked a joke to lighten the mood.
"I said: 'Liam, it's my birthday in a few days, what are you buying me?'," Shane said yesterday.
Liam's response was the greatest gift of all to an anxious family who have maintained an around-the-clock vigil at his bedside since he suffered horrific injuries at a party almost a fortnight ago.
"He just looked up and gave this enormous smile. It was amazing," Shane said. "It was the first time I recognised Liam again since it all happened."
One of Liam's other brothers, Kyle, captured the milestone on his iPhone.
Doctors have told the Knight family that Liam, 17, is still in a serious condition and has a long road to recovery ahead of him.
But Liam's smile was just the tonic the people closest to him needed.
"There really hasn't been anything too positive until then, so it was pretty exciting," Shane said.
"Mum said she felt like it was Christmas. He's gone from his death bed to looking up and smiling at us."
I thought this kid was history, so good to see he is on the way back
When Liam was rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital late on January 11, doctors told his family things were not good. He had been hit in the head with a metal bar, allegedly thrown by a gatecrasher at an 18th birthday party in Forestville, on Sydney's northern
beaches.The rusted metal bar that had pierced his skull not only caused severe damage to his brain, but also a serious infection.
"When I saw him that night in hospital with all the tubes, I thought he'd never recover," Shane said.
"We were pretty much told to prepare for the worst, but you never want to think that, you want to remain hopeful, and we did.
"We've been told we won't know exactly what damage has been done for a while, until he tries to do things like talk or walk."
While his family remained at Liam's bedside, the local community has been rallying behind him.
A barbecue fundraiser will be held today from 11am at Woolworths, Frenchs Forest, with all proceeds going towards Liam's ongoing care.
Liam worked there part-time and his mother Mary and one of his brothers are also employees. "They are very much part of the Woolworths family and Liam's colleagues at the Frenchs Forest store were very keen to do something to help out," a Woolworths
spokeswoman said.A 16-year-old male from North Ryde has been charged over the incident.
23 JAN 13 @
Liam support day at St Pius X college
AROUND 100 well-wishers gathered to write get-well messages for attack victim Liam from St Pius X College.
17 JAN 13 @
North Ryde youth accused of hurling metal pole at party denied bail
A North Ryde boy accused of hurling a metal pole like a javelin at another youth appeared in court yesterday.
16 JAN 13 @
Boy charged with spearing Sydney teen denied bail
A boy charged with spearing a 17-year-old with a metal rod during a birthday party was denied bail yesterday.
16 JAN 13 @
St Pius X College sends prayers and messages for Liam Knight
THE ST Pius X College school community is offering its prayers and writing messages in a special book
16 JAN 13 @
Call for witnesses to attack on Liam Knight
POLICE are calling for witnesses to come forward following an attack by gatecrashers on the weekend.
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