Severely injured Milton firefighter leaves hospital

Injured Milton firefighter Antonio Pickens did something Friday that many once thought would be impossible. He went home, and on time for Christmas.
Pickens, in a wheelchair and covered head-to-toe in Dallas Cowboys gear, was hugged and cheered by more than 30 members of the fire department and medical staff at Kindred Rehabilitation Hospital in Braintree during a send-off party, as he prepared to go home. There were lots of jokes, a few awkward silences, and tears that were brushed away quickly. ``It's a miracle; it's simply a miracle,'' said firefighter Joseph Garrity. Pickens' wife Marilyn said words cannot express how happy she is to have her husband back at their home in Brockton. ``That's what he wanted,'' she said. ``He wanted to go home.'' Pickens said he planned to hug his two teenaged children as soon as he got home. ``I miss my kids,'' he said. Pickens was at Kindred Hospital for more than two months.
When he was transferred there from Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, he was on life support. Denise Montville, a respiratory nurse who has cared for Pickens, said there is no other way to describe Pickens' recovery other than a miracle. ``We don't have a lot of patients who go home,'' Montville said. ``He always had that idea that 'I'm going to get better.'''
Pickens is now able to talk, although slowly and quietly, shake hands with his left arm, and with help can stand for short stints on his own two legs. He told reporters that he wants to get well enough to go back to work. Montville believes he will eventually be back doing the job he loves. ``I believe he can do it,'' Montville said. ``It will take time, but he can do it.'' Firefighter's union head Jack Grant gave Pickens a six-pack of Heineken, with silver and blue bows -- Dallas Cowboys colors. ``He told me a few times he wanted to have a beer,'' Grant said. ``Today we can let the Cowboys slide, but if the Patriots meet Dallas in the Super Bowl, it'll be Tony against the world that day.''
In some ways, it has been Tony against the world, or at least against all odds. Since July, Pickens has been fighting for his life after an alleged three-time drunken driver slammed into him as he was helping motorists on Route 138 who had been in a minor accident. He was thrown more than 100 feet. Both his legs were broken. His right arm was nearly severed, and an artery in his left leg was sliced, causing massive blood loss. Doctors gave him little chance of having a normal life and recommended that Pickens be taken off life support.
His wife Marilyn refused to give up hope. She said since the accident she has become an amateur nurse, learning from doctors and nurses, and searching the Internet for information. She said Pickens will likely have a nurse at the house round-the-clock and the rigorous therapies that have brought him this far, will continue. Union head Grant said a few weeks after being moved to Kindred, Pickens took a turn for the better. At first, Grant said, Pickens' eyes were open, but were not focused on what was going on around him. It was in August, when two firefighters were killed in a West Newton blaze, did things change. ``You could see it in his eyes,'' Grant said. ``They were focused. He knew what was going on.''

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[clayman26777]

Too bad he didn't die. That would have made a funnier video!!!

[lonelymale86]

way to go brother and may god bless u and your family get feeling better from the firefighters of SW missouri

[michiganfireman]

Way to go. Your courage makes me proud to be a firefighter!

[toldyaso71]

Way to fight my brother! Mighty proud of my firefighting brothers. May the Lord always be with you and your family.

[TheCapitan802]

amazing

[ChoctawCreek]

Heroes :-)