LI Teen Who Once Suffered From Brain Injury To Run In 5K

BRENTWOOD, NY - Two years ago, Brentwood teen Donovan Maldonado couldn't even walk -- but in just a few short weeks, he will be participating in a 5K race.

In 2016 Maldonado, now 16, was struck by a car near his home Washington Avenue. He was sent to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore and later to Cohen's Children Medical Center to be treated for serious injuries.

He was in a coma for months and suffered from internal bleeding as well as a traumatic brain injury.

"We didn't think he was going to make it," his mother, Laura Garces told Patch.

About 6 months after the crash, Maldonado was finally starting to show signs of improvement. He was beginning to speak again and even taking his first steps. He finally returned home just before his birthday in August 2016, about 7 months after the incident.

However, it was still a tough time for the family. Maldonado was wheelchair bound, Garces had quit her job to help her son with the recovery process and his father, Matthew Maldonado, had lost his job.

But the family never lost hope.

The Brentwood community came together to show their support for the family. A GoFundMe page started by Garces to help the family during this tough time, even raised almost $30,000. (Click here to read more or to donate).

Now, Maldonado is looking to give back himself. On Oct. 28, he will be participating in the 2018 Catholic Health Services Fourth Annual 5K race in Patchogue which will help raise money for veterans.

The teen was inspired to participate after hearing of the helicopter crash in Iraq that killed four Long Island soldiers last March, according to his father.

"We wanted to be a part of it because its a tragic loss and we know what that feels like so we wanted to be supportive of that," Garces said.

Through the Facebook page, Pray4Donny, the family has recruited about 15 to 20 people to join the race, including students and faculty of Brentwood High School.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone even paid a visit to Maldonado at his school to show his support.

"The strength, perseverance and hard work it has taken Donovan to get here, and to now undertake this new challenge, truly humbles and inspires me," Bellone wrote in a Facebook post.

While his parents are concerned for their son's health, they are happy he has become such an inspiration in the local community.

"It wasn’t even a thought that he would actually be racing but we have a lot of faith so we always stayed hopeful that he would continue to improve and now that this opportunity is here i’m like ‘why not,'" Garces said.

Photos courtesy of Laura Garces