Thanks, BB, for this story.
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IT was a fight even his parents feared was beyond him, but Connor Blythe has finally returned home.
The 11-year-old left the Royal Children's Hospital yesterday to move back home to Beaufort -- 14 months after pushing his sister Erin, 6, out of the way of a car and taking its full impact.
The December 20, 2006, crash all but killed Connor, leaving him with head injuries and limited communication.
Since, Connor has defied medical expectations, learning to smile, giggle and make noises to answer questions.
Since Christmas he has learned to sign "thank you", is close to saying "hello" and several other words, and is using a communication book to pass on messages he cannot yet say.
But his biggest smiles yet were reserved for a surprise goodbye party yesterday.
"He is just a courageous little kid who is thrilled to be going home," said Connor's father, Ray Blythe.
"I never thought he'd get this far . . . to see him leave today is an amazing thing.
"They wrote him off to the point of suggesting his life support was turned off but we said all along we wouldn't do it, and we had to give him a chance.
"Clearly he has a long way to get yet, but I think he'll take that next leap now that he has his friends, family and animals around him."
An eight-day home visit over Christmas paved the way for Connor to return permanently.
He will live at his grandmother's house while his family's old home is demolished and a new disability-friendly home built with the support of the Transport Accident Commission.
Connor's mother, Erolyn, said his return home was also reminder of how much things had changed since he left.
"It is a realisation that while this is a fantastic step, things are not going to be the same," she said.
"But there is no reason it can't be different, but just as good."
It is also a bittersweet time for Mr Blythe. The divorced parents have spent every day by Connor's side for the past 14 months, but now he will have to drive from Melbourne to the outskirts of Ballarat to see his son several times a week.
"He keeps proving everyone wrong and I hope in a year's time he is hitting more milestones," Mr Blythe said. "After all, he's only 11 and has his whole life ahead of him, who's to say what he can and can't do?"
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"We will not be silent. We are your bad conscience. The White Rose will give you no rest."