From a devastating accident to renewed hope: a young Ottawa man is one step closer tonight to leaving hospital, after a catastrophic brain injury last June. But first, he needs to travel further away from home for therapy he can't get here.  This is a story of love and determination. Of a young man, 20-year-old Dylan White, facing insurmountable odds to recover from a horrific fall.  His physical wounds have healed but he needs specialized care to help heal his brain.

Every day, since that horrible phone call last June, Dylan White's parents have been by his side, encouraging him, working with him and loving him.

“Can you give me a thumbs up on that,” says John White to his son Dylan, as he sits in his wheelchair on the 3rd floor of his room at Bruyere’s Saint-Vincent Hospital. “He bud, you know dad and mom have told you many times never give up, keep fighting.”

It is a motto that John White and Dylan’s mother Marjolaine Boucher are living by. It is helping them cope.

“The silver lining around that dark cloud is getting bigger and bigger and bigger,” says John.

That dark cloud moved in June 7 of last year.  Dylan and two of his friends had climbed onto the roof of a grain bin in the middle of the night. Dylan slipped and plummeted 60 feet to the ground. 

“His shoulder blades were fractured, his pelvic bones were fractured, his eye and orbital sockets were fractured,” says John, as he recalls the list of his son’s physical injuries. For the most part, those physical injuries have healed but his brain injury is extensive though his parents are convinced Dylan hear and understand them.

“He knows, because when I put my head on his chest, he'll rub my head,” says Dylan’s mother Marjolaine, tears springing to her eyes, “I know he knows.”

So tomorrow, Dylan leaves Bruyere-Saint-Vincent hospital and will fly by helicopter to Hamilton's Health Science Centre to undergo extensive therapy for 3 months. It is a six-bed slow recovery centre for acquired brain injuries.

“They are in a very good position in meeting his needs and helping him to achieve further gains as well,” says Barry Hollywood, the clinical manager at Saint-Vincent.

Dylan's friends have started a Go Fund Me page (https://www.gofundme.com/e2ghsy3g)to help the family with the costs of Dylan's care.  One step at a time towards bringing their Dylan back home where he belongs.

“You’re getting stronger,” says John, as he works with his son on his physiotherapy, “this arm is getting stronger buddy.  Everything's coming together, bud.”

Dylan has a long road ahead of him.  His parents know it may take years but they aiming high, hoping he'll talk, maybe even walk one day.