On Aug. 11, Richard and Jennifer Castro were two days away from moving back home to Gering, Neb., with their sons Andrew and Benny.
Their plan was to take what they started in Brainerd, New Song Ministries, to Nebraska to be closer to family. The arrangements were made, their bags were packed and family awaited them.
Benny Castro
Those plans and their lives were put on hold that day after Benny, 4, was struck by a car and seriously injured while riding a bicycle outside of his home on Russell Road in north Brainerd.
Benny suffered a traumatic brain injury and a broken tail bone. He spent a month at North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale before transferring to Gillette's Children's Specialty Healthcare hospital in St. Paul, where he's been working on speech and physical therapy.
Today he will be saying goodbye to the hospital and spending a night in the Twin Cities, visiting museums with his family. On Saturday he'll be coming home to Brainerd.
"He just doesn't need to be taken care of at hospitals anymore," said his mom, Jennifer Castro. "He's doing great. He's doing awesome."
There was a tentative discharge date of Oct. 30, but after Richard and Jennifer talked with Benny's doctor it was agreed he could be released early. Jennifer said Benny understands that he was hurt in an accident and he has been patient with his recovery and working hard at getting better.
"He's been such a good boy," she said.
It has helped Benny, and the Castro family, to have family and friends visit the hospital often during the difficult time. She thanked everyone who offered friendship, spiritual support and financial support during Benny's recovery.
"It's been awesome the support we've had. People we don't even know have been writing us, wishing Benny well and there's been a lot of prayers for Ben, which I know have helped tremendously," she said. "It really helps you to know there actually are good people in the world."
The move to Nebraska will be completed in two weeks and Benny will be enrolled in kindergarten. He will continue occupational and speech therapy through the school.
"He's relearning how to walk, to talk, basically do everything a healthy normal person does, like feeding yourself," Jennifer Castro said. "He's coming along very well. He's right on track with his recovery and they said in a couple years he'll be pretty much back to normal."
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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