At five-years-old, Drew Iida was an active boy taking part in Pop Warner football.
But things took a horrible turn last October when he suffered a severe brain hemorrhage during practice and fell into a coma.
Though it’s been a long road to recovery, Drew’s family says they’re blessed in many ways.
Once a perfectly healthy little boy, Drew Iida remains in a hospital bed on the mainland after suffering a seizure during Pop Warner football practice last October.
"It’s really hard for us because we don’t know what caused it, so we don’t know how to prevent it from happening to another child,” said his mother, Sheri Iida.
Doctors discovered Drew had a large amount of bleeding in his brain.
They immediately performed surgery removing part of his skull to give his brain room to swell.
The 5-year-old was in a coma for 21 days.
"They said that there’s a good chance he wouldn’t survive,” said Iida.
On December 5th Drew was flown from Honolulu to Arizona.
"We went because there is no neuro rehabilitation for children here for children in Hawaii,” said Iida.
After multiple surgeries and weeks of rehab, Drew — the oldest of three — is showing signs of recovery. He is breathing on his own, moving his legs and arms and starting to talk.
His parents take turns flying up to Arizona to stay with him at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
"The cost we are not quite sure how bad it’s gonna be,” said Iida.
Friends have taken the initiative to put together a fundraiser to help offset some of the hospital costs.
"It also has to do with getting the community involved with people who need the help at the time that these tragedies and set backs occur in our lives,” said Dr. Hugo Higa, family friend.
And some familiar faces are showing their support as well.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and UH quarterback Bryant Moniz will sign autographs at the fundraiser to raise money for the Iida’s medical expenses.
It will take place Thursday, Jan. 26 at 5 p.m. at Dr. Higa’s office on Kapiolani Boulevard.
"I can’t even begin to describe how much we appreciate it,” said Iida. “Never in a million years did I think that complete strangers would offer their support to us."
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
