‘Baby Izaiah' Recovers After Being Hit by Drunk Driver

It was in the 4100 block of Lake Boulevard, that a drunk driver with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit, struck Baby Izaiah's stroller and forever altered the future course of the toddler and his family. 

After six years, multiple surgeries, thousands of hours of therapy and testing  Izaiah, now a first grader, is finding his laugh.

His father, Jacob Wallis says progress is slow going but he sees Izaiah making small strides in this journey to a more normal life.

“He is getting the brain recovery back, it's great to see . He is doing everything the doctor said he wouldn't do,” Wallis said.

At 18 months old, Izaiah was hit by teenage drunk driver. The toddler was thrown from this stroller barely recognizable after the collision. At the time his grandfather was pushing him down Lake Boulevard.

“He was internally decapitated and he was blind for about the first month,” Wallis said. 

The fact that Izaiah lived was nothing short of a miracle. Jacob says he and his wife Lucy Verde were told their son would likely never progress beyond a vegetative state.

“Just trying to do everything I can to keep him busy. Not being so focused on him being a sick kid in the room all the time,” Wallis said.

Izaiah has permanent brain damage, he's paralyzed from the chest down. His vision is impaired, and he needs a respirator to breathe much of the time.

Despite the avalanche of hurdles, father and son are finishing the race.

“He's always been a fighter He never gives up and he loves going to therapy,” Wallis said. 

In therapy, Izaiah is doing strength training. Exercising his muscles and his damaged brain. 

"He's able to hold himself up on his legs. He's definitely doing some crawling getting upper body strength," Wallis said.

It is baby steps for a not-so-"Baby Izaiah" anymore. Still it shows promise and gives his parents hope. 

“Every day, I look down the hallway and just wish that I can see him walking towards me and calling me dad. That would probably be the best moment of my life,” Wallis said. 

Wallis says if it weren't for the organization "Passion for Kids" and the great generosity of the San Diego community, Izaiah would not have the special care and the family could never afford what has amounted to more than a million dollars in treatment.