OAKLEAF – Eddie and Rose Carrasco described their son, Isaiah, as a vibrant rising senior at Oakleaf High. Tragedy struck 16-year-old Isaiah Carrasco on June 12, 2022, and his life was forever changed.

Carrasco lost control of his vehicle in a single-car accident. The car was crushed, and the passenger was in critical condition. Carrasco sustained a diffuse axonal injury (DAI), a devastating injury in the brain resulting from traumatic shearing forces.

It is exceptionally rare for a patient with DAI to regain consciousness from a coma.

Fifteen months following the accident, Carrasco still shows his same vibrant spirit. He has already defied the odds on the long road to recovery.

“Isaiah has beaten the odds. Every doctor has said that Isaiah would not be able to do this or that,” his father said.

After spending just one month with him, Nicole Hansen, one of his 24-hour team of nurses, has already noticed a major improvement. When she first met Carrasco, he couldn’t move much at all. He is much livelier now, she said.

“(At first Carrasco) wasn’t really able to pull his arms out. Now, he can (utilize) his arms much more easily, and his legs have started moving. I just see little improvements in him every day,” she said.

Carrasco is learning to communicate with his eyes to his therapist, whom he meets daily.

“He is learning to speak with his eyes. I just really enjoy working with Isaiah every day and watching him progress,” she said.

Carrasco’s tracheostomy tube has been removed. His father said he is eating more solid foods, little by little. He is continuing to build his core strength and becoming more vocal.

“He’s doing amazing things. His vision, communication, and pleasure feeds are improving. These are (things) that were not supposed to happen,” the father said.

Finding treatment has been a challenge since day one.

“This journey has been difficult because you have all of the politics of insurance and some doctors tell you that they can’t give you a prognosis,” Eddie said.

Carrasco’s recovery has taken him across the world. He and his family traveled to New Orleans and Atlanta, where he received Hyperbaric oxygen and Exosome therapy. He recently returned from Monterrey, Mexico, where he received another treatment.

Securing non-invasive and low-impact therapies with few side effects has been a tall order. His insurance often would not cover the cost of meeting DAI specialists. Despite the pessimistic outlook from some doctors, Carrasco’s parents continue to fight and love for their son unconditionally – all while paying most of the medical expenses out of pocket.

His parents say they will never give up.

“There are things that, based on his condition now, Isaiah can’t do yet. I say ‘yet’ because I know he will be able to do this thing (eventually),” the father said.

To support Carrasco’s continued therapy and care, the community has rallied around the family through fundraising efforts, from 5K races and raffles, to collecting old sneakers and selling T-shirts reading “Isaiah Strong.”

“What’s going on is a daily battle, so I would just say to be thankful that you’re not going through this journey. Most importantly, keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and if you feel it in your heart to support us in any way, please reach out,” Eddie said.

Carrasco’s family has raised $32,310 through his GoFundMe page, which updates his progress regularly. If you would like to donate, visit gofundme.com/f/hzwnb-isaiahs-journey-to-recovery.